Abu Dhabi - Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital, is one of the world's largest mosques. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan's love of nature is symbolised throughout the mosque. One thousand gilt-topped, marble columns, designed to represent the cherished date palm, bear intricate floral patterns meticulously hand crafted from semi-precious stone and mother of pearl. This architectural marvel also features 82 domes, 24 carat gold plated chandeliers, the world's largest hand knotted carpet measuring 57 000 square metres, created in Mashhad, Iran by a team of 1 300 weavers and space for 41 000 worshippers. The main entrance doors contain no less than 87 000 stunning glass mosaic pieces - all were hand-blowen in Murano, Italy. Enjoy the tour of the Grand Mosque through these wonderful images.