Completed in , this magnificent mosque is not just a place of worship but also a symbol of the UAE's heritage. Inside, you'll find the world's largest hand-knotted carpet and one of the largest chandeliers, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. The mosque's serene atmosphere and breathtaking design make it a must-visit for anyone spending time in Abu Dhabi. As a female solo traveller who just visited recently, I have some specific tips to share with women who will visit this iconic location. Getting to the Grand Mosque.
The Dress Code. Photo Tips. Admission Times and Cost. Book Your Tour. Otherwise, I just expected to see a beautiful mosque — after all, I love Islamic architecture, so I was sure it would be a treat. While the mosque itself is beautiful, the arrival was a bit more stressful than anticipated.
I went to one of the shops outside my first mistake — they are definitely more expensive than the ones in the mall and while there were options for abayas from dirhams, I am a bit of a sucker sometimes, and I was attracted to the prettier abayas with gold embroidery and beads, so I ended up paying dirhams for a more ornate abaya. The salesman assured me it was perfectly appropriate for the mosque. OK, fine. So I headed down the escalator — in the glass dome pictured below — into the mall yes, you need to go through a mall to get to the mosque entrance — a bit bizarre!
This beautiful glass dome is actually the entrance to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque! Strangely, you enter here, down an escalator to an underground mall, go through security, and then walk through an underground tunnel to the mosque, about 10 minutes away.
In case of mobility issues, there are conveyor walkways, however I found it more efficient to just walk. However… security turned me away because you could see a bit of my ankle when I took a step! I went back to the salesman who swiftly exchanged it for a longer one, and even he was surprised I had been turned away. But all was OK and I went back down. This is me laughing outside the entrance because I am being sent back to change my abaya for a longer one to adhere to the dress code, oops :D.
