#894 Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Feast your eyes on this magnificent building! The Abu Dhabi mosque has only been completed very recently and is a beautiful religious monument in the standards of old. The size of 5 football fields, yet it is still only the 8th largest mosque in the world. It is spectacular in its artisanship, with materials and craftsmen coming from across the world as far away as New Zealand, Morocco, China and Germany. From afar it is a glittering magnificent white against the blue UAE skies, but upon closer examination, the white Italian marble has been carved into elegant flowers, and in other places such as the pillars, inlaid with semi-precious stones, also in the forms of flowers.

The glass in the windows is like crystal, and also carved into flowers -- as it is against Islamic traditions to portray any beast or person in their art. Stupendous chandeliers ornament each large dome with its star-shaped supports. Modern technology has not be forgotten with the smart international clocks in each room and the efficient air conditioning and lighting systems. An army of cleaners sweeps, mops, and shines each area as all the covered visitors wander through the vast spaces necks craned and cameras snapping in awe.

The late Sheikh initiated the building of this mosque, and his tomb also lies here. While the grandeur may seem excessive, it is a beauty!

 

 

 

 

 

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheikh_Zayed_Mosque