Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mosque (Arabic: مَسْجِد ٱلشَّيْخ خَلِيْفَة بِن زَايِد آل نَهْيَان, romanized: Masjid Ash-Shaykh Khalīfah Bin Zāyid Al Nahyān), also known as “Al Ain Grand Mosque”, “Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Grand Mosque”, or simply Sheikh Khalifa Mosque (Arabic: مَسْجِد ٱلشَّيْخ خَلِيْفَة, romanized: Masjid Ash-Shaykh Khalīfah) is an under-construction mosque in the city of Al Ain in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. Once completed, it is expected to be the largest mosque in the city, and one of the largest in the country. It is named after the current Ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
History
Construction of the mosque was awarded to Arabian Construction Company for AED 600 million. It started in December 2013, and was initially scheduled for completion in 2016. Currently, the biggest mosque in use in the city is that of Shaikhah Salamah, mother of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the father of Sheikh Khalifa.
Nearby, a 1000-year-old mosque dated to the Islamic Golden Age, besides other remains relevant to the region’s history, was unearthed in September 2018. Its age may make it the oldest mosque in the country.
Structure
The built-up area of the mosque is meant to occupy an area of 15,684 m2 (168,820 sq ft), with the total area of the mosque being 256,680 m2 (2,762,900 sq ft). With an indoor capacity of 6,433 worshippers, and outdoor capacity of 14,029, its total capacity would be over 20,000. It has 4 minarets which are meant to measure about 60 m (200 ft) high. The 4 minarets, each measuring 60 m (200 ft) high, are inspired by the Great Mosque of Samarra. Additionally, there is an arcade which connects the various parts of the mosque and rims the yard with an area of 7,660 m2 (82,500 sq ft), which was inspired by Andalusian and Umayyad architecture.
Dome
The main feature of the mosque is a huge dome, the largest of its kind in the country, covering the main prayer-hall. The dome is expected to have an interior height of 31.3 m (103 ft), interior diameter of 75 m (246 ft), exterior diameter of 86 m (282 ft), and total area of 4,117 m2 (44,320 sq ft). The dome, the largest of its kind in the country, is adorned with verses from the Quran.
