UAE then and now: the mosque planned by Sheikh Zayed that became his final resting place
Use our interactive slider and scroll through the photo gallery to explore one of Abu Dhabi's main landmarks and the final resting place of the UAE's Founding Father
Today, life in the Emirates moves in the fast lane. In a regular series to mark the 50th anniversary of the UAE, we take a trip back in time to see how much the country has changed.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is many things. Its grounds are the final resting place of Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father, it is the largest mosque in the UAE, and it is the city’s most popular tourist destination - consistently number one on TripAdvisor.
The project was launched by Sheikh Zayed in the mid-1990s, with construction completed in the autumn of 2007, although landscaping work continued for many years after.
Though Sheikh Zayed did not live to see the mosque completed, following his death in 2004, he was buried in a courtyard tomb that was then part of the building site.
A construction worker on the site of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi in December 2005. Getty
Scaffolding surrounds part of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque during construction. Getty Images
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque under construction in December 2005. Getty Images
A view of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in December 2008. Nicole Hill / The National
A visitor at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in April 2008. Jaime Puebla / The National
Iftar at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on the first day of Ramadan in August 2009. Ryan Carter / The National
Worshippers make their way to evening prayer at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque after breaking their fast during Ramadan in August 2009. Ryan Carter / The National
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque silhouetted at sunset. Stephen Lock / The National
Worshipper gather at the grand mosque for Eid Al Adha prayers in November 2010. Rich Facun / The National
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque viewed from the air. Jaime Puebla / The National
A light show is projected on to the grand mosque in November 2011. Silvia Razgova / The National
Worshippers pray at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on the first morning of Eid Al Fitr in August 2012. Antonie Robertson / The National
Tourists visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in October 2013. Silvia Razgova / The National
Workers enjoy the view of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in October 2014. Silvia Razgova / The National
Visitors pass through the arched walkways of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque a day before Eid Al Adha begins in October 2014. Silvia Razgova / The National
The intricate designs of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National
A water feature reflects the intricate arches of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Reem Mohammed / The National
The supermoon rises behind Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in November 2016. Christopher Pike / The National
A visitor walks along the arched walkways at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in December 2017. Antonie Robertson / The National
Tourists walk past Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque as the sun sets before Eid Al Adha in August 2017. Christopher Pike / The National
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque opened to the public on December 20, 2007. Antonie Robertson / The National
The first photograph in the interactive slider was taken in December 2005, when the exterior was largely completed, along with the four minarets.
The mosque is made from concrete, but its facade is made of marble from North Macedonia - over 1.2 million square metres in total.
The building incorporates elements of Islamic architecture from all over the world, including Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan and Iran.
The artistic flourishes, featuring inlaid floral designs, use stone, gold leaf, semi-precious stones and ceramic tiles.
Inside, the 5,600-square-metre carpet in the main prayer hall is generally believed to be the largest in the world and was made by the Iran Carpet Company, which employed 1,200 weavers and used over 35 tonnes of wool and cotton in its creation.
Hanging from the ceiling are seven chandeliers made in Germany that contain millions of Swarovski crystals. The largest is 15 metres high and is cleaned via access from an internal staircase.
Each of the 99 names of God is inscribed on the qibla wall, while the external lighting reflects the phases of the Moon.
The mosque is open to non-Muslims outside of prayer times and famous visitors include Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles, INC president Rahul Gandhi, model Gigi Hadid, singer Dua Lipa and actor Hugh Jackman, to name a few.
Despite its obvious Instagram appeal, the vast majority of visitors respect the culture and values represented by the mosque, and it is now as recognisable a symbol of Abu Dhabi as the Eiffel Tower is of Paris or the Tower Bridge is of London.
Each Ramadan, the mosque welcomes tens of thousands of worshippers for iftar meals and taraweeh prayers, attracting about one million visitors during the holy month in 2019.
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Key findings of Jenkins report
Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
All matches in Bulawayo Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Flydubai flies to Podgorica or nearby Tivat via Sarajevo from Dh2,155 return including taxes. Turkish Airlines flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Podgorica via Istanbul; alternatively, fly with Flydubai from Dubai to Belgrade and take a short flight with Montenegro Air to Podgorica. Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Podgorica via Belgrade. Flights cost from about Dh3,000 return including taxes. There are buses from Podgorica to Plav.
The tour
While you can apply for a permit for the route yourself, it’s best to travel with an agency that will arrange it for you. These include Zbulo in Albania (www.zbulo.org) or Zalaz in Montenegro (www.zalaz.me).
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
