Al Ain Grand Mosque – Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mosque

Rashid Al Nuaimi, Staff Reporter

Everyone in Al Ain are admiringly looking at the city’s flagship iconic architectural mosque and eagerly looking forward to visiting and praying in it. It is the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mosque with the largest dome that is ornamented with the calligraphic Quran verses and wholly covers the entire main prayers hall of the mosque.

The work at the Mosque is now in the final stages, where its major aesthetic features have become almost complete. The Mosque is adjacent to the oldest mosque in the UAE that dates back to more than 1000 years.

The Mosque’s work which is supervised by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs reflects the meticulous attention to detail, embodying the modernity with Islamic heritage and the symbolic significance of the culture of the country.

The Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mosque is one of the most prominent architectural monuments of Islamic art, not only in the city of Al Ain, but also in the entire country in terms of the spirit of Islamic architecture, its unique artistic heritage, and the symbolic significance to the culture and heritage of the UAE. It further represents the symbolism of these meanings while highlighting the historical importance of the region. In addition, it stands as a creative and non-traditional architectural work stemming from the Islamic architectural heritage, combining the greatness of traditions and the modern technology.

The features of the dome are distinctive because they are different from the traditional form of mosques in terms of the detail and treatment. They have been based on intertwined Qur’anic paintings that were woven from the Arabic calligraphy with outstanding letters showing splendor of the Arabic calligraphy and its aesthetics. Moreover, it represents an essential component and an integral part of the dome’s architecture.

The Mosque is established on a total area of 256,680 square meters, with a built-up area of 15,684 square meters. It consists of the main prayers hall under dome with an area of 4,117 square meters and 60-meter-high 4 minarets in the corners of the dome. They are inspired by the minarets of the Great Mosque in Samarra with a modern appearance. There is also an arcade designed in the Umayyad-Andalusian style, connecting the various components of the mosque and rimming the yard with an areas of 7,660 square meters.