Attractions in United Arab Emirates

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi can accommodate 40,000 worshipers and is both one of the largest mosques in the world and the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates. It is located between the Al-Bateen business airport and the Ritz-Carlton luxury hotel, located directly on the Khor al Maqta estuary.

Circumstances of origin

The construction of the mosque, which is well worth seeing, was commissioned by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the co-founder and first President of the United Arab Emirates. That was in 1996, Zayid died in 2004, and the mosque opened in 2007, and neither expense nor effort was spared in building it. The sheikh, who was buried on the site, contributed more than half of the construction costs (350 of almost 550 million US dollars) from his private assets. He was significantly involved in the design of the mosque and contributed his own ideas, which went down to the smallest detail.

Dimensions and sights

The spacious courtyard is surrounded by four minarets, each 107 meters high, the main dome of the mosque is 75 meters high and 32 meters in diameter. The approximately 5,600 square meter, hand-knotted carpet in the interior of the mosque is sensational, and 1,200 people worked on more than two billion knots for a year and a half. The huge chandeliers are adorned with Swarovski crystals, the interior walls and the numerous columns are decorated with mother-of-pearl and gold leaf. The building has 82 white domes, and no savings were made on white marble.

Sightseeing opportunities

Since it is not only a symbol of tradition and deep piety, but should also be a place of openness and hospitality, non-Muslims are allowed to enter this mosque. It can be visited all day from Saturday to Thursday and from the afternoon on Friday. Restricted opening times apply during the month of fasting. Admission and the guided tours offered several times a day are free. If required, female visitors are given a black cape, male visitors should not appear in shorts.

Emirates Palace Hotel

Emirates Palace Hotel

The United Arab Emirates are wealthy and the capital Abu Dhabi in particular has a lavish lifestyle. Those who are on holiday or doing business here and are financially strong enough can choose between many elegant and expensive hotels. Outstanding among them is the Emirates Palace Hotel, which cost between $ 2.5 billion and $ 3 billion to build. This makes it one of the most expensive hotels in the world.

The history of origin

The construction of the hotel on the Corniche and thus directly on the Persian Gulf began in 2001, and the opening took place in 2005. The builder was the ruling family of Abu Dhabi, the Emirates Palace Hotel is operated by the luxury hotel group Kempinski, and WATG was responsible for the design. The preference of Arab rulers for European architecture played an essential role in this, and it is not a coincidence that the palatial hotel is reminiscent of the magnificent Palace of Versailles.

The opulent furnishings

The entire area measures one square kilometer. The main gate is 40 meters high and 36 meters wide, the private beach is 1.3 kilometers long and a marina is connected to it. A ballroom for up to 2,400 people, an auditorium designed for 1,100 guests, numerous restaurants, bars and shops, 40 conference rooms and two helicopter landing pads are also located on the site, which is planted with 8,000 date palms. 140 elevators take care of the transport, for state guests a separate driveway to the fifth floor of the hotel building was built.

The rooms and the guests

“Ordinary” guests stay in 55 m² rooms with a view of the garden, side or direct sea view. A butler is provided for all 302 rooms and 92 suites. The largest suite in the house has three bedrooms and 680 square feet of living space. The suites on the eighth floor offer just as much space, but cannot be rented even by wealthy private individuals – they are reserved for the rulers of the neighboring Gulf states as well as for presidents and kings. That is why the “Ruler Suites” category was introduced for them.

Dubai frame

Dubai is one of the most fascinating cities in the world. After all, it has countless highlights ready. One of the newest attractions in the capital of the emirate of the same name is the Dubai Frame. The building, which opened in January 2018 and should not be missed when visiting, is located in the popular Zabeel Park and consists of two 150 meter high towers that are decorated with lots of gold leaf. The two towers are connected at the bottom with a base building and at the top with a 93-meter-long, state-of-the-art glass bridge. In the middle of this bridge there is a 25 square meter glass surface. From here, visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the entire city. Due to the shape of a picture frame, the Dubai Frame is also known as the largest picture frame in the world. In the base building there is a gallery in which the development and further development possibilities of the city can be experienced in an impressive way with a wide variety of presentations. The Dubai Frame is open daily from 2pm to 11pm. You should plan between one and two hours for the visit. The tickets for the Dubai Frame at a price of 50 dirhams (around 11.50 euros) can only be booked using a dedicated smartphone app. These then simply have to be shown on the smartphone at the entrance. You should plan between one and two hours for the visit. The tickets for the Dubai Frame at a price of 50 dirhams (around 11.50 euros) can only be booked using a dedicated smartphone app. These then simply have to be shown on the smartphone at the entrance. You should plan between one and two hours for the visit. The tickets for the Dubai Frame at a price of 50 dirhams (around 11.50 euros) can only be booked using a dedicated smartphone app. These then simply have to be shown on the smartphone at the entrance.

Attractions in United Arab Emirates