48 hours in Abu Dhabi — Long Story Short

Last week, I was presented with an opportunity to visit a city that I had always dreamed of seeing: Abu Dhabi. The U.A.E. is an oasis, both literally and figuratively, in the Middle East. While the rest of the region was (and is) in turmoil, the Emirates grew and transformed itself into a contemporary conglomerate of city-states. Dubai led the charge in infrastructural development, but now Abu Dhabi is having its own moment.

I was given the opportunity to go on this ridiculous trip last weekend for work with one catch: I would be only staying for 48 hours. But, when someone offers you an all-expenses-paid trip to the Middle East you tell your inner brat to shut up and say yes. One seventeen hour plane ride and a few cocktails later - and I was in the U.A.E.. This was foremost a work trip so I didn't have a ton of time to spend being a tourist. The few moments I did have focussed on the highlights, one of which was visiting the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

Over the years, I have seen a few brilliant religious edifices that never fail to impress. In comparison, the Sheikh Zayed Mosque definitely held its own. The Mosque took eleven years to construct and exceeded many of records set by buildings from past centuries. The 180,000 square foot courtyard is the largest example of stone mosaic in the world and the central prayer hall chandelier is the third largest in the world. It is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and one of the largest in the Middle East. The amount of time spent constructing the building shows the attention to detail that was put into it's design. With mother of pearl inlaid floral motifs and over 60,000 square feet of Persian carpeting, the Mosque takes the minutiae of design to a new level.

My first impression of the Mosque was that it reminded me an odd mix of Ottoman and Mughal architecture. The 82 domes are distinctly Mughalese (Indian Islamic) with their pointed tops. The rest of the structure blended together other stylistic elements of Islamic Architecture like the Arabesque minaretes and the Moorish archways. The hyrbidizing of Islamic styles is unusual but produces an impressive product.

Entrance Hall featuring Inlay Floral Motif

Stylistically, the building defines what the U.A.E. has transformed into after declaring independence from Brittain in 1971. The country has embraced and imported Western culture on a mass scale while promoting peace in the Islamic world. The Sheikh Zayed Mosque puts this on full display. The chandeliers are made of Swarovski Crystal and designed by a German lighting company; the stone comes from multiple locations across the globe; and the building itself was design by an Italian Architecture and Construction firm. This Mosque showcases a globalized Emirati style full of high end materials dedicated to the country's religion.

Swarovski Crystal Prayer Hall Chandelier

The beauty of this Mosque defines the Emirati way of life that I immediately fell in love with: grandiose yet welcoming.

Cheers,

Hugh