Sheikh Zayed grand mosque, Abu dhabi

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque of Abu Dhabi is world famous and the largest mosque of the UAE. It is a pure white marvel designed in Mughal and Moorish style architecture. 

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi

It is mandatory to have proper clothing covering the full body to enter into the mosque. Ladies are required to cover their heads too. 

There are guided tour every hour to visit the mosque with ample of knowledge. Our guide was having in depth knowledge and answered all the questions with great enthusiasm. 

Decorated dome ceiling near main entrance, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The main prayer hall can accommodate about 7000 worshipers. The Iranian carpet in this hall weights 35 ton and is the world's largest hand woven carpet. 

Main Prayer Hall, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque 

World's largest Carpet, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The Chandeliers in this hall are world's largest chandeliers, made in Germany having forever sparkling millions of swarovski crystals.

A marvelous Chandelier out side the main prayer hall, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque  

World's largest Chandelier inside main prayer hall, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The courtyard in the centre of the mosque can accommodate about 30,000 worshipers. The courtyard has four tall minarets on the four corners. Standing under any Minaret, lines of white poles having golden decorations can be seen, which gives an amazing effect.

Courtyard, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Minaret, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Decorated Poles, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

There are special lighting arrangements at night, which follows the phases of the moon to project lighter to darker bluish gray lights. In our next visit to this marvellous place, I wish to visit at night to experience this glorious lights. 

A day tour of Abu Dhabi from Dubai

Abu Dhabi is an oil reach capital of the UAE, located 145 KM away from Dubai and connected by E11, the longest highway of the UAE. Abu Dhabi is an island surrounded by several other islands, including Yas island famous for Ferrari park and Yas water-world. 

Aldar headquarters building, Al Raha, Abu Dhabi

We boarded bus E100 to Abu dhabi from Al Ghubaiba bus station, Dubai in the morning. The ticket was 25 AED per person, and bus was having quite comfortable seats and free WiFi connectivity. 

Decorations on the highway near Abu Dhabi

We reached Abu Dhabi central bus station in 2 hours, from there we boarded city transportation bus:54 to Sheikh Zayed grand mosque. 

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi

For more information please check my post: Sheikh Zayed grand mosque, Abu dhabi

We returned to the central bus station by the same bus:54 and changed to bus:34 to Emirates Palace Hotel. This is a huge palace hotel and among the most beautiful hotels of UAE. You can have a reservation in any of the restaurants inside of the hotel campus, if you want to visit the interiors of the hotel. 

Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi

Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi

We walked for few minutes towards Marina mall, this road gives the best view of Abu Dhabi Corniche skyline. 

Corniche, Abu Dhabi

The marina mall is the biggest mall of Abu Dhabi. From Marina mall, we boarded the bus: 63 for Corniche public beach. It is a clean beach with lots of activities like bike hiring, cycling, surfing, etc. 

Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi

After spending 2 hours on the beach, we returned to the Central bus station by bus:34 and back to Dubai by intercity bus: E100.

Map with Abu Dhabi bus routes