Still in Abu Dhabi, Ute saved the best for last…a visit to the Grand Mosque, aka the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. This behemoth, the largest mosque in the UAE, was built between 1994 and 2007, using materials and workers from over 60 countries and was built for the sum of $545M. Another bargain! It covers 30 acres in space and has a capacity for 41,000 worshipers. It is quite the operation; with a Starbucks, McDonalds, Fro-yo, Cinnabon and shops on the lower level of the parking and visitors’ center, and then you utilize moving walkways underground for ½ of a mile until you pop up and there you are, face-to-face with the magnificent building. Of course, women must have their arms, legs and head covered; men must wear pants.

The mosque was built under the guidance and supervision of Sheikh Zayed, who was buried here after his death in 2004. It features 82 domes, more than 1,000 columns, 24-carat-gold gilded chandeliers and the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet. The main prayer hall is dominated by one of the largest chandeliers.

We’ll let the pictures do the talking.

Tomorrow: Desert Safari

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