I chose to stay at the Grand Millennium Al Wahda Abu Dhabi. The hotel’s location is very convenient, close to the bus drop-off point and within walking distance. There is also a shopping mall nearby for supplies.
That afternoon, I visited the famous Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. I took a taxi for the round trip, costing 35 dirhams for the trip there and 40 dirhams for the return. Both rides were in small family cars, which was quite affordable.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is another marvel of the UAE, with many highlights and is definitely worth a visit. It is the largest mosque in the UAE and was built to honor the first president of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed, who established the UAE in 1972. He was also the ruler of Abu Dhabi and passed away in 2005. Under his leadership, the UAE developed into what it is today.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the third largest Islamic architectural masterpiece in the world. During its construction, designers from Italy, India, Turkey, Iran, China, and other countries were hired globally, and building materials were sourced worldwide. The project was undertaken by thirty-eight engineering companies, employed three thousand workers, and took thirteen years to complete, costing 5.5 billion dollars. Every detail is of world-class quality, intricate and refined. The mosque was completed in 2007 during the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha and is open to the public, accommodating up to 41,000 worshippers simultaneously.
The mosque features 82 domes and over 1,000 columns. In terms of architectural design, it follows traditional patterns that reflect Islamic architectural style. The central part of the mosque has a dome reaching 57 meters in height, surrounded by high walls with 57 decorative smaller domes on the main and side entrances. The mosque’s interior and exterior walls and domes are made from top-quality white marble and white plaster. In front of the main hall, there is a spacious plaza paved with white marble, where each marble piece has nearly identical color and texture. The pieces are not arranged in conventional square patterns but follow the curves of the marble’s texture, with large floral vine patterns painted on the marble surface.
The golden branch-shaped crystal chandelier suspended in the main prayer hall was custom-made in Germany and consists of over 11,000 Swarovski crystals. It is renowned as the largest and most beautiful crystal chandelier in the world. On the white marble walls of the hall, the 99 names of Allah are inscribed in various scripts. The hall’s ceiling features lifelike floral patterns, while the walls are adorned with elegant floral vines. The glass doors and windows are decorated with vibrant floral patterns, all of which are truly breathtaking.
Outside the main prayer hall, the spacious corridor is adorned with various decorative patterns on its ceiling, and the rows of columns resemble date palms. The tops of the columns are wrapped in gold, gleaming under the sunlight. The columns themselves are inlaid with patterns made from mica and mineral pigments, which display different colors in the sunlight, creating a beautiful effect.
Walking around the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque truly made me appreciate the grandeur of the UAE. The fact that the country invested so much time, labor, and resources into building such a mosque underscores the immense power of faith.
There are two key points to note when visiting the mosque:
- Dress Code: According to Islamic tradition, women must wear long robes that cover them from head to toe. Free robes are available at the mosque entrance for visitors. Men are not required to wear robes but must avoid sleeveless tops and wear trousers that extend past the knees. Everyone must remove their shoes before entering the prayer hall.
- Visitor Etiquette: Visitors should avoid loud noises, and jumping or playful actions are prohibited when taking photos. Displays of affection such as holding hands or hugging are not allowed. Respect for Islamic religious and cultural practices is essential.
Louvre Abu Dhabi and Emirates Palace Hotel
The Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum is located on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. A round-trip taxi ride from the hotel costs 30 dirhams.
To enhance its status in the art world, the oil-rich UAE sought to “replicate” the Louvre in Abu Dhabi. The renowned Louvre in Paris gladly accepted the offer, agreeing to open a branch in the UAE, lend artworks, and allow the use of the “Louvre” name for a 30-year lease, with a contract value of nearly one billion euros. At the same time, the Louvre Abu Dhabi would acquire its own collection. The museum officially opened to the public in November 2017.
The new museum’s design was created by one of France’s most renowned architects, Jean Nouvel. The building covers 24,500 square meters, including 6,000 square meters of permanent exhibition space and 2,000 square meters of temporary exhibition space. Located at the entrance to Saadiyat Island, the architect’s bold vision gives the museum an unforgettable appearance. Its roof, made of interwoven steel and aluminum, appears to float in the air, making it a landmark in the city.
In addition to its architectural design, the Louvre Abu Dhabi boasts a rich collection, encompassing paintings, sculptures, and artifacts. The collection is divided into six series: Figures, Ancient Worlds, Saints, Eastern Images, Western Gaze, and Cultural Dialogues. It features everything from ancient Persian artworks to modern masters like Picasso and Gauguin, from a 3,000-year-old Iranian bracelet to nine paintings by American abstract artist Cy Twombly. The variety is astounding and impressive.
Building on these exhibits, the permanent exhibition at the Louvre Abu Dhabi is organized along the timeline of human civilization, focusing on four key periods: the birth of civilization, the medieval and Islamic periods, the classical period (from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment), and modern and contemporary art from the late 18th century to the present. This exhibition guides visitors through the timeline of art, reflecting Abu Dhabi’s past and future in the art world. It highlights its ancient role as a “bridge of cultural development between East and West” and its contemporary vision: as the Arab world’s first global art museum, Abu Dhabi aims for the institution to be “not only a container of art and culture but also a place for dialogue and exchange between different civilizations,” marking an important step in its pursuit of deeper cultural connections with Europe and beyond.
The Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi is a classical Arab palace-style building and a miracle rising from the desert. Located on the northwest coast of Abu Dhabi, it boasts a 1,300-meter-long golden coastline. It is the most luxurious hotel to date and the only eight-star hotel in the world, built at a cost of 3 billion dollars. The hotel is considered “almost built for a king.” It is currently managed by the Kempinski Hotel Group and was designed by the renowned British designer John Elliott. His design is grand and elegant, with a strong Arab national style. From a distance, it resembles a mosque and more closely resembles a massive castle.
In 2015, the film Furious 7 significantly boosted the fame of the Emirates Palace Hotel and the Etihad Towers. The opening scene of the movie, where a team of actors stylishly descends the stairs, was filmed in front of the Emirates Palace Hotel. The movie left a lasting impression with the hotel’s lavish, classical Arab-style exterior.