UAE’s second grand mosque
Mosques stand tall against all the skyscrapers the UAE is home to. These ornate places of worship are a spiritual escape for the Muslims and architectural marvels for tourists. In a 7-part series, Khaleej Times picks 7 of the best mosques from across the
Visiting the northern emirate of Umm Al Quwain, you invariably pass by the Sheikh Zayed mosque.
The grand mosque is the second in a series of four mosques established by the Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation all over the UAE, funded by the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The mosque, that can accommodate up to 3,400 worshippers at a time, was built at a cost of Dh44 million.
The iconic landmark stands on a total area of 3,747 square metres. These include 1,200 sq m for the prayer room, 2,000 sq m for the external yard, 410 sq m for the women’s prayer room, and 260 sq m for the ‘ewan’ or sitting area. The central dome of the mosque is 12m in diameter, while the garden of the mosque has been created on a total area of 1,137 square metres.
Built in 2000, the mosque is also famous for its spectacular decorations and architecture, particularly its four tall minarets of 56m each, which can be seen from a distance.
Additional facilities include a special hall for Quran memorisation, a library, separate ablution areas for men and women, along with the accommodations for the mosque Imam and muezzin.
Residents and visitors enjoy the mosque’s serene, spiritually uplifting atmosphere.
Saeed Abdullah, an Emirati national, said: “The 18-year-old mosque is one of the leading attractions in Umm Al Quwain.”
Mohammed Al Ashqar, an Egyptian resident, said he prays five times a day at grand mosque, which throngs with worshippers in the holy month of Ramadan. “Crowds of people, even from nearby emirates, flock to the mosque for prayer. They also enjoy the fascinating decorations and exceptional architecture, particularly its four tall minarets and the big dome.” Huda Abdulrahman, a Syrian, said she feels like going to the mosque with her children. “My kids like to play in the garden of the mosque after prayers.”