SHEIKH ZAYED GRAND MOSQUE
The ornate Sheikh Zayed Mosque, likely the most imposing landmark in Abu Dhabi, can accommodate 40,000 worshippers and is one of the largest mosques in the world.
The burial site for its namesake, Sheikh Zayed, the mosque features 80 domes decorated in white marble, 1,000 columns inlaid with semi-precious stones, the world’s largest hand-woven carpet and seven 24K gold-plated chandeliers – again including the world’s largest – that incorporate thousands of Swarovski crystals. Open to nonworshippers Saturday through Thursday, it is the only mosque in Abu Dhabi that non-Muslims are permitted to enter.