Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the world, a dazzling vision of gleaming white marble, gilded domes and delicate floral inlay in the capital, Abu Dhabi. Able to hold tens of thousands of worshippers among more than a thousand columns, it holds the world's largest hand-knotted carpet - 5,627 square metres, designed by the Iranian artist Ali Khaliqi and knotted by some 1,200 weavers - and seven chandeliers made in Munich with millions of Swarovski crystals, the largest ten metres across, and its reflecting pools and courtyards are especially magical at dusk.

What's there

• The white marble and inlay - the gleaming stone and delicate floral inlay.
• The main prayer hall - the world's largest hand-knotted carpet and crystal chandeliers.
• The reflecting pools - the mosque mirrored in the courtyard pools.
• The domes and courtyard - the gilded domes and vast marble courtyard.

When to go

November to March for pleasant weather; go in the late afternoon to see it by daylight and then beautifully lit at dusk. It is free, but a strict modest dress code is enforced, with women needing to cover hair, arms and legs.

Things to know

It is a working place of worship with a strict dress code enforced: shoulders, arms and legs covered for all, and women must cover their hair, though robes can be borrowed. It closes to visitors during prayer times and on Friday mornings. It is very popular, so it can be crowded, especially at sunset.

Nearby

The Louvre Abu Dhabi, the corniche and the Qasr Al Watan palace are in the city; Dubai is 90 minutes away.

Key facts