No trip to Abu Dhabi is complete without a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. It is without a doubt the most beautiful mosque many have ever visited. The white marble courtyard dominates the square with beautifully inlaid and colorful figures and the golden details that complete the mosque’s design is simply dazzling. Here’s some more information to know about this stunning mosque and some details about how you can get to it.

How to Get To Sheikh Zayed Mosque?

Most travelers stay in the center of Abu Dhabi, near the coast. As Sheikh Zayed Mosque is located a short distance from the center of Abu Dhabi, you will need to arrange transport to visit the mosque. If you have a rental car, you can get there in about 20 minutes, depending on traffic, of course. Another good and not so expensive option is to use a taxi. In Abu Dhabi, taxis are metered.

There are also several parking lots for buses, cars, and taxis inside the mosque grounds. You will enter the mosque through a glass dome in an underground shopping mall. There, you will find several shops, toilets, cafes and the entrance to the mosque.

Important Information Before Visiting the Mosque

There are a few things to know before visiting the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. For example, the opening hours and the clothing restrictions that apply to visiting the mosque. The mosque can be seen every day from 9:00 in the morning until 10:00 p.m., except on Fridays, it is possible to visit the mosque from 16:30 in connection with prayer. Opening hours are adjusted during special (festive) days, such as Ramadan, so you need to be well informed.

What Is the Dress Code At Sheikh Zayed Mosque?

The mosque in Abu Dhabi cannot be visited casually. There are strict dress codes for visiting this beautiful mosque. Women must be completely veiled, including long trousers, ankle-length dresses or skirts, and long-sleeved shirts. Wearing a headscarf is also compulsory. Make sure your hair is well hidden. Men must wear long trousers. Unlike women, men can wear a T-shirt.

It is advisable to dress appropriately before visiting. If you do not have a scarf or long-sleeved sweater with you, you can change at the entrance. There is a separate area for women and men. For women, there are abayas, long dresses. For men, there are long trousers, and they don’t charge for this service.

Entrance Fee For The Sheikh Zayed Mosque

The tour of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque is free of charge, and this applies to both Muslims and non-Muslims who wish to visit the mosque during regular opening hours. Only on Friday afternoons, during prayers, a fee is charged.

You can also visit the mosque with a guide. During your visit, you will learn even more about the construction and details of the mosque. These free tours are organized by the mosque and can be conducted in Arabic or English.

Note: You must keep your free ticket for the duration of your visit. It will be scanned several times!

This huge white mosque is the largest in the United Arab Emirates, and walking around it is an experience. Once you reach the mosque through the underground tunnel, you will walk through the mosque on a marked route. The route leads past four possible photo stops in the courtyard, and you are not allowed to stand still and take pictures on the walkways. The path continues inside, past the mosque, and through the underground tunnel back to the exit. A visit to the mosque takes 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the number of photo stops and the number of people.

Have you ever visited this magnificent mosque? Share your experience with us in the comments below!