Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street, 5th Street, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
No matter where you are staying in the UAE, you can’t leave without visiting the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in
Abu Dhabi. The mosque, the third-largest in the world, is the final resting place of Sheikh Zayed, the nation’s founder. Even on the hottest summer day, the white marble floors—inlaid with mosaic flowers and vines—remain cool underfoot, and the scale of the space will impress even the most casual observer: The main hall can hold about 7,000 people. Take a tour and learn about the iconography of the intricate tiles and mosaics. Marvel at the huge rug that covers the floor in the main worship space; it’s the largest handmade rug in the world. If you happen to be visiting during Ramadan, you could consider joining one of the community
iftar dinners, which sometimes serve as many as a thousand people in an evening.