If you have been to Abu Dhabi and have not visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque - you have not been to Abu Dhabi! With 82 domes, sky-reaching minarets and tons of sparkling white marble, the view of this sacred architectural structure is breathtaking. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a giant house of prayer, large enough to accommodate over 40,000 visitors. The complex covers more than 22,400 square meters, it is the largest mosque in the UAE and the third largest in the world. The main prayer hall can accommodate more than 7,000 worshippers, there are also two small prayer halls with a capacity of 1,500 people each. The size of the mosque is so large that more than 100,000 tons of Greek and Macedonian marble were used in its construction. The project worth 2.5 billion dirhams was implemented for 12 years, starting in 1996. The mosque was built in the classical architectural style of the Mamluks, Ottomans and Fatimids. Its lighting system reflects the phases of the moon, projecting colors onto the exterior of the mosque, which change at night depending on the position and shade of the moon. Its interior harmoniously combines classic arched doors and geometric shapes typical of the Middle East with a modern, innovative design. It was built by top-class craftsmen from around the world. Although externally and internally it corresponds to the Arabic style, construction companies from all over the world worked on the creation of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Italian engineers from Salini Impregilo took over 3,000 workers from 38 contracting companies, and real masters of their craft from India, Germany, Egypt, Turkey, Great Britain, China and Pakistan also made valuable contributions. The carpet of the main prayer hall, by the way, the largest in the world, was hand-knitted by 1300 Iranian craftsmen from New Zealand wool. It is so heavy that it had to be disassembled, transported by two planes, and then sewn back on arrival. It's all about the little things... it's the details that make the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque so amazing. Semi-precious stones such as amethyst, lapis lazuli and jasper are inlaid in columns. Delicate floral patterns made in mother-of-pearl decorate the walls. Six Faustig chandeliers, covered in 24-carat gold and decorated with shimmering Swarovski crystals, hang from the ceiling. The largest chandelier is located under the roof of the central dome at a height of 15 m. The Grand Mosque is named after the first president of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who began to implement the project of this magnificent structure. He chose a location: the entrance to Abu Dhabi Island between the Musaffa and Makta bridges - and set the architectural direction of the project. He wanted it to become his last resting place, and now the sheikh's body rests in the courtyard of the mosque. Everyone is allowed in, not just Muslims. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque offers free guided tours in English or Arabic. It is open to visitors from Saturday to Thursday from 09:00 to 22:00 and on Friday from 16:30 to 22:00. Women are provided with an abaya, and men with long trousers.