Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi

 

Now that I have sent my flower and carpet images I thought it about time to post images of the actual mosque.

(Our hysterical private guide, Roxy. If you are ever in Dubai or Abu Dhabi and need a tour call her!)

                 (Our handsome and sweet guide. Mother now has a terrible crush on Arab men)

So far it has cost $3.2 Billion and they haven't even finished working on the grounds which will have lush gardens, fountains and streams.

It has the world's largest chandelier, made by Swarovski.

                                                           (The largest chandelier)

(Another one)

There are 82 domes all in white marble and the biggest one is the largest on record.

(The men's ablution room-where you clean your hands, face, head and feet three times before prayers)

I was simply astounded by this beauty and richness. I'm reading about Cleopatra at the moment and her palaces were inlaid with gemstones on the walls and columns, this is what it must have been like.

I could babble on but the pictures say it all.

The Persian Carpet at the Zayed Mosque

This is apparently the largest carpet in the world (beating the one in the mosque we saw in Muscat!).

 It was all made in Iran and helicoptered over, lowered in and sewn together on site. 

I didn't notice in the carpet in Muscat but this one has raised lines in it so that everyone can make perfect lines (foot to foot, shoulder to shoulder as our guide told us) during services. 

I guess that is how they can squeeze 40,000 people into the place. These were some of my favorite patterns. 

Mother has said she wants to make needlepoint seat cushions out of them. Watch out!