The Central Bank of the UAE issued 1,971 silver commemorative coins for the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre.
The special coin is aimed at showcasing Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, named after Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father, the banking regulator said on Wednesday.
Khaled Balama, governor of the Central Bank of the UAE, said the release of the coin coincided with celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the UAE's founding.
“The issuance of these coins embodies the forward-looking vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan that led to the creation of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the world’s splendid landmarks, an international cultural platform and a beacon of cultural exchange that promotes the values of tolerance,” said Mr Balama.
Each coin weighs 40 grams. The front side features a portrait of the Sheikh Zayed, along with his famous words: “The union lives in my soul, in my heart and it is the dearest to my heart.”
The coin also has an illustration of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the words “The Year of the 50th” inscribed.
The coins will be handed over to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre and made available for sale to the public at Souq Al Jami, a shopping centre adjacent to the Grand Mosque, through Etihad Modern Art Gallery, the central bank said.
They will not be available for purchase at the Central Bank of the UAE headquarters or its branches, the regulator said.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque tour
“By issuing this commemorative coin, SZGMC [Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre] seeks to honour the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan’s timeless legacy, values and accomplishments that have touched the hearts of citizens and residents, and led the UAE to reach historic milestones and achieve global recognition in various fields,” said Abdul Rahman Al Owais, chairman of the board of trustees of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which took 11 years to construct, is one of Abu Dhabi’s most popular attractions.
In 2019, it was ranked by travellers in third place in a top 10 list of landmarks in the world, a report by TripAdvisor said.
That year, more than 6.6 million people visited the mosque.
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Second set of UAE dirham notes ever printed
