Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was designed by Syrian architect Yousef Abdelky and built between 1996 and 2007. Antonie Robertson / The National
Construction of the mosque began in 1996. It took 11 years to build and involved engineers, artisans, workers, architects, design firms and construction companies from across the world. AFP
It was the passion project of the late President Sheikh Zayed, who died in 2004. Antonie Robertson / The National
Present all along was the idea of lunar light because of its significance in Islam. Victor Besa / The National
Light being tested on the actual shell of the mosque. Courtesy Speirs and Major
There are 19,225 lighting fixtures on the mosque. Around the exterior are 600 individual lights. Antonie Robertson / The National
The lighting became fully operational by 2010 and is run by a computer system with a lunar clock and is all set for the next 300 years. Victor Besa / The National
Most of the lights have now been converted to energy-efficient LEDs. Victor Besa / The National
