Sheikh Zayed Mosque: Visitor Guide with Opening Hours and Tips

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque, with its stunning architecture, is a must-visit in Abu Dhabi. One of the largest mosques in the world, it offers a spiritual and cultural experience. Guided tours fill up quickly, so it's best to book in advance.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque is one of the largest mosques in the world and can hold more than 40,000 worshippers and visitors simultaneously.

Also known as the ‘Pearl of the Gulf, ’ Sheikh Zayed Mosque is in Abu Dhabi, about 129 km (80 miles) from Dubai.

The Grand Mosque’s designers were British, Italian, and Emirati, and they used design elements from Turkey, Morocco, Pakistan, and Egypt, resulting in a stunning architectural masterpiece.

Here’s everything you need to know before booking your Sheikh Zayed Mosque tickets.

Top Tickets

# Abu Dhabi city tour from Dubai
# Half-day guided tour of Abu Dhabi
# Sheikh Zayed Mosque + Abu Dhabi night tour

It’s highly recommended to book your Sheikh Zayed Mosque tickets in advance. These tickets sell out quickly, so securing your spot early ensures you don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience.

Key Takeaways

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque + Abu Dhabi half-day tour is one of the cheapest and most popular ways to explore the grand mosque and city

If you are traveling from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, buy the Sheikh Zayed Mosque full-day tour ticket as it includes air-conditioned transportation between the two cities

Children aged three years and below are eligible for a free ticket in combination with an adult ticket

The mosque remains open from 9 am to 10 pm on all days except Friday. On Fridays, it opens from 9 am to 12 pm, and after the noon prayers, from 3 pm to 10 pm

The best time to visit the mosque is at 9 am when it’s less crowded; if you love photography and sunsets, tour the mosque after 4 pm

You need to follow a strict dress code when visiting Sheikh Zayed Mosque. Abayas are free for women, and men can buy dishdashes from the nearby souk

What’s ahead

Things to know before booking tickets

You can purchase your Sheikh Zayed Mosque guided tour tickets online or in person at the attraction’s ticket kiosks. Online ticket prices tend to be cheaper than tickets at the venue. Plus, you can avoid the long queues at the attraction’s ticket counters and get your preferred time slot when you book online and in advance. This can be extremely beneficial during the peak seasons. Once you purchase your Sheikh Zayed tickets, they get delivered to your email address. On the day of your visit, just show the e-ticket from your smartphone and enter—no need for printouts!

Did You Know?
Only the Sacred mosques of Mecca (Al-Masjid Al-Ḥarām) and Medina (Al-Masjid Al-Nabawī) are larger than the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which covers about 29.6 acres (12 hectares) of land.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque ticket prices

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque is free for all visitors, and you don’t need a ticket to enter this grand attraction.

That being said, we recommend opting for a guided tour if you want to understand the true essence of this beautiful building in its entirety.

Note: Kids three years and below can join all tours mentioned below for free.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque + Abu Dhabi half-day tour

This 5-hour tour is the cheapest and most popular way to explore the best of Abu Dhabi in half a day’s time.

The tour starts at 8.45 am and is only available in English. It includes visits to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the Zayed Port’s vegetable and dates markets, and the Abu Dhabi Heritage Village.

Along the way, you get to view Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, and Abu Dhabi’s Corniche.

The focal point of this tour is a guided visit to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the country’s key site of worship.

While at the mosque, admire its inner courtyard and minaret, design motifs of Naskhi, Thuluth, and Kufic calligraphy, and the building’s slender columns reflected in the water.

Note: Pickup and drop-off for those booking this ticket are available from Abu Dhabi only.

Ticket Prices

Adult Ticket (11+ years): AED 158 ($43)
Child Ticket (3 to 10 years): AED 144 ($39)

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If you are planning to visit the Grand Mosque during Ramadan, Fridays, and other Islamic festivals, you need to know that the visiting hours are subject to change. We, therefore, suggest checking the official website for the latest information. 

Sheikh Zayed Mosque Full-day tour (from Dubai)

This full-day guided tour is available in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, English, and Chinese and is limited to 17 people per group for a more intimate experience.

With transportation taken care of—air-conditioned pickups and drop-offs from Dubai hotels, apartments, Port Rashid, or Dubai Harbour Cruise terminal, there’s a lot you can see on this side of the Persian Gulf.

Your first stop is the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, where a live guide will enthrall you with anecdotes and facts about the mosque’s varying-sized 82 domes, Swarovski chandeliers, patterned designs, etc.

The ticket also includes a photo shoot opportunity outside the Louvre Museum on Saadiyat Island, entry to the observation deck of Etihad Tower, and a visit (self-guided) to the Qasr Al Watan Presidential Palace.

Ticket Prices

Adult Ticket (12+ years): AED 365 ($99)
Child Ticket (4 to 11 years): AED 294 ($78)

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Want to explore Sheikh Zayed Mosque with the best Abu Dhabi has to offer? Then, book the Sheikh Zayed Mosque + Etihad Towers, Grand Mosque + Louvre Museum, or the Sheikh Zayed Mosque + Ferrari World tickets

Sheikh Zayed Mosque + Abu Dhabi night tour

This premier Sheikh Zayed Mosque + Abu Dhabi attractions night tour portrays UAE’s capital city in a way most tourists wouldn’t have experienced before.

Lasting for 4 hours and available only in English, this small group tour includes pickup and drop off from any hotel or apartment in Abu Dhabi.

The night tour begins with a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque where you can marvle and admire the attraction’s architectural beauty and snow white domes in the night light.

You also get to view and admire the Qasr Al Watan Palace as you pass by, and entry admissions to the Wahat Al Karama (Oasis of Dignity), Founder’s Memorial, Marina Mall, and Corniche Beach.

Ticket Price (Irrespective of age): AED 882 ($240)

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Sheikh Zayed Mosque timings

Sheikh Zayed Mosque is open from 9 am to 10 pm, from Saturday to Thursday. The last entry is at 9.30 pm.

On Fridays, the mosque shuts down at 12 pm for afternoon prayer. It again reopens from 3 pm to 10 pm.

During Ramadan, the mosque stays open from 9 am to 2 pm, Saturday to Thursday. It remains closed on all Fridays during the holy month.

Best time to visit Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Sunset at Sheikh Zayed MosquePin
The splendour of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque never fails to wow. Image: Goodfon.com

The best time to visit Sheikh Zayed Mosque is when it opens at 9 am. The crowds are less and you get to explore the mosque’s many wonders at a more leisurely pace.

The second best time to visit the mosque would be during the evening hours, closer to the sunset. Sheikh Zayed’s pristine white structure gets bathed in an orange-pinkish glow which is a sight to behold!

Like any popular tourist attraction in Abu Dhabi, weekends are slightly more crowded than weekdays.

Pro tip: It is best to visit Sheikh Zayed Mosque in the mornings or evenings to avoid the region’s extreme heat, especially during the summer months from May to November.

Best time for photography

If you’re a shutterbug, plan your visit at sunset or just before sunset. The Mosque looks fantastic as the sun shines off the building during what people in Abu Dhabi call ‘the golden hour.’

The morning hours also make for some great photography; the mosque’s reflection from the ponds within and its marble mosaics are sure to delight even smartphone photographers.

How long does visiting Sheikh Zayed Mosque take

Most visitors take 90 minutes to two hours to explore the entirety of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

Guided tours to the Mosque last an hour, but you can explore the attraction for another 30 to 60 minutes, marveling at its intricate decor, designs and detailing.

If you are visiting the mosque during the weekends, spare an extra 30 minutes to tour the attraction, keeping in mind the long queue lines at the entrance, and holiday crowds entering and exiting its halls.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque at night

Sheikh Zayed Mosque at nightPin
Image: Jimmy McIntyre, the travel photographer

Sheikh Zayed Mosque is now open at night too, helping make the ‘Pearl of Gulf’ all the more magical after dark.

Get ready to be mesmerized by the mosque’s domes and pillars that get lit up in magical colors depicting the lunar cycle.

Furthermore, on full moon evenings, the mosque is bathed in cold white lighting, and blue light on new moon evenings.

Even more spectacular is the seven subtle shifts in color that envelop the mosque every second evening!

Dress code

Sheikh Zayed Mosque dress codePin
Image: Freetoursbyfoot.com

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque is Abu Dhabi’s premier site of worhip and an active religious place. All visitors must, therefore. follow the Mosque’s conservative dress code regardless of faith.

Men must not reveal any flesh above their knees and cover their shoulders.

Likewise, women must not wear pants, shorts, or skirts that end above the ankle; they must cover their heads and hair with a headscarf.

If your dress doesn’t adhere to this dress code, women will be provided with free ‘Abayas’—a simple, loose robe-like dress, when visiting the mosque.

Men, who haven’t come dressed according to the mosque’s dress code, can buy a dishdash or loose-flowing garment at the Souq Al Jami’ attached to the Mosque.

Shoes are not allowed inside the mosque and you need to leave your footwear on a shoe rack within the premises. We suggest wearing socks to beat the heat or cold emitting from the marble floor.

Did You Know?
The Sheikh Zayed Mosque’s main prayer hall houses the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet: It took eight months to design it, a year to knot it, and two months to bring it in one place, and knot it all together again!

Entrances to the Mosque

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has four entrances, out of which, the Visitor Entrance (Al Salam Gate 6) is the most important.

Located on the mosque’s western side, this entrance can be accessed from Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street which leads directly to the mosque’s grounds.

The other three entrances—North Entrance (reserved for VIPs), South Entrance (for adminstrative purposes), and East Entrance (for special events and parking)—are not open to tourists.

What to see at Sheikh Zayed Mosque

There’s a lot to see once you step into the mosque. It is home to 82 minarets combining the Mamluk, Ottoman, and Fahmid styles, and houses the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet, among other things.

Here’s a rundown of what you ought not to miss when touring the mosque.

Sheikh Zayed Mausoleum

The Mosque is named after the Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, the Emirati ruler who unified the Emirates, forming what we now know as the United Arab Emirates.

His mausoleum is located in a separate building on the north side of the Mosque; you can find two Imans continuously reciting the Holy Quran inside his mausoleum.

Note: Photography is strictly prohibited inside the mausoleum.

The Central Courtyard

Central Courtyard of Sheikh Zayed Grand MosquePin
Image: Mohammed Bukar

The Grand Mosque’s dominating feature is its central courtyard.

This gleaming white courtyard, lined by reflecting pools, draws inspiration from Pakistan’s Badshahi Mosque, and Morocco’s Hassan II Mosque.

The courtyard alone can hold 30,000 believers and is guarded by four 107 Meters (351 feet) high minarets inspired by the Egyptian, North African, and Turkian civilizations.

The Foyer

Also called as the Al Noor Foyer, this part of the mosque bears semblance to living plants.

The beautiful colored marble adorning the floors and walls of the foyer come from over 37 countries.

Kevin Dean designed the main and east foyers with these realistic flowers that grow in the Middle East. The North and South entrances are adorned with species from the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

The foyer’s onion-top dome is one of the Mosque’s largest domes, and it is decorated with Moroccan plasterwork reinforced with fiberglass.

There’s a verse of the Koran calligraphed around it; each letter is painted with a gold leaf and written in a popular style called An-Naskh.

Main Prayer Hall

Main Prayer Hall of Sheikh Zayed MosquePin
Image: DotShock

The mosque’s main prayer hall is a hangar-sized room divided into two for separate genders. It can easliy hold 10,000 worshipers at any given time.

96 columns adorned with marble inlaid with mother of pearl, support the mosque’s roof.

The room is fully air-conditioned, with the area around every column conditioned by an AC the size of a mini-bus!

Chandeliers

Chandelier in Main Prayer Hall of Sheikh Zayed MosquePin
The grand chandelier in the Main Prayer Hall of Sheikh Zayed Mosque. Image: Wondermondo.com

Sheikh Zayed Mosque has seven grand crystal chandeliers, each weighing around eight to 12 metric tonnes.

Steel cables hold up to 36 tonnes of weight supporting each chandelier. And guess what? The seven chandeliers hold almost 40 million Swarovski crystals in them!

The candeleliers—patterned on the region’s palm trees—weigh about 9 tonnes, making them the heaviest in the world

The Main Prayer Hall’s chandelier, in particular, is made of stainless steel and brass, and is dusted with 40 kg of 24-carat gold.

World’s largest carpet

Carpet in Sheikh Zayed Grand MosquePin
Image: Nazmiyalantiquerugs.com

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque’s Prayer Hall is home to the world’s largest carpet. It is made primarily of imported New Zealand wool and took no less than 16 months to weave.

The carpet, made by a third-generation carpet master from Iran, was delivered in nine pieces in two jumbo jets.

1200 artisans worked on the hand-knotted carpet, which, when unrolled, covered a whopping 5,700 sq.mt (61,354 sq.ft)!

The wall of Allah

Wall of Allah at Sheikh Zayed Grand MosquePin
Image: Scott Campbell

The Qibla wall facing Mecca is engraved with 99 names that Muslims attribute to God in Arabic calligraphy.

The engravings are highlighted by subtle fiber-optic lighting. The semi-circular niche is adorned with 24-carat gold and complements the beauty of the Grand Mosque.

Reflective Pools

Reflective Pool at Sheikh Zayed MosquePin
Image: Andrew Moore

There are many pools around the mosque lined with reflecting tiles. These pools, when lit at night, further enhances the beauty of the Mosque.

Tourists who have visited the mosque, claim the calm waters of these pools perfectly match the peaceful environment of the Mosque itself.

Magical nuances and rhythm aside, the pools are a huge hit with both professional and amateur photographers hoping to win the yearly ‘Spaces of Light’ photo competition.

Diya, an immersive experience

A recent addition to the many wonders you get to see inside the mosque, Diya, as the title suggests, is a 360-degree experience using sound and light.

It takes visitors on a sensory journey beginning with a star-lit sky and descending to the land of the United Arab Emirates, showcasing its rich heritage.

Visitors are then guided through lush green oases, towering mountains, serene coastlines, and golden deserts, culminating at the majestic minarets of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

How to reach Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Sheikh Zayed Mosque is situated between the three main bridges connecting Abu Dhabi to the mainland (Maqta, Mussafah, and Sheikh Zayed bridges). Get Directions

You can enter the mosque from ‘Al Salam Gate 6’ on the Al Shahama Rd/Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan St.

If you are looking for parking, the largest spaces are around the main entrance; the reminder of them are located near the East and North Entrances.

We suggest hiring a taxi to the Grand Mosque if you are staying in Abu Dhabi: The Mosque is 15 km (9.3 miles) from Abu Dhabi city, and a quick 12-minute taxi ride can get you there.

The drive from Dubai to the mosque tends to be longer—about 130 kilometers (80 miles) or roughly 1.5-2 hours. The plus point here is the roads connecting the two cities are a breeze to drive on.

Photo of author
Researched & written by
Jamshed is a versatile traveler, equally drawn to the vibrant energy of city escapes and the peaceful solitude of remote getaways. On some trips, he indulges in resort hopping, while on others, he spends little time in his accommodation, fully immersing himself in the destination. A passionate foodie, Jamshed delights in exploring local cuisines, with a particular love for flavorful non-vegetarian dishes. Favourite Cities: Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Dublin, Prague, Vienna

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