Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

#thingstodo The Great Mosque was one of the most impressive buildings that I toured on my recent trip to Abu Dhabi. You really have to admire the details in the building, from the impressive entrance and fountain to the jeweled pillars and fantastic crystal chandeliers. No expense was spared in the design of this building. All our did was ohh and ahh on the design. I was really impressed by the contemporary look of the whole mosque. This is the way to celebrate God. I have to admit that it does have an American touch to it. There is a mall attached to it with a food court and a McDonalds. There really is something for everyone here. This is an experience not to be missed. Our hotel gave us a ticket to bypass the queues. Very helpful as the queues were long with coach parties etc. Once inside the mosque (accessed by a long quiet tunnel with travelators) we recommend the free cultural tour which takes about 30 to 45 minutes. It not only gave you insight and interesting facts but also took you to central parts that the crowds could not actually go into. Our tour guide, Aisha Mubarak, was very knowledgeable and friendly and we rate her as excellent. The tour is in English only. Make sure you register beforehand. The visit is free. We were lucky and a free tour started when we got there. Mahmoud was an amazing guide! Very friendly and knowledgeable, he showed us the highlights in 30 minutes. We even got to go in the big prayer hall, which is typically fenced off. Clear recommendation!