Visit breathtaking Fujairah Grand Mosque
As you descend into Fujairah from the highway, Fujairah Grand Mosque instantly stands out on the skyline. And each time I pass it, I’m just as mesmerised by its breathtaking architecture as the time before.
Also known as Fujairah Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, it is the second largest mosque in the UAE and is open for non-Muslims to visit. I’ve taken the tour more than once, highly recommend it and often take my visitors.
This post was first published on May 27 2021 and rewritten on January 30 2024.
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If you can’t take the tour, you should still stop to admire the beautiful exterior, domes, minarets and Islamic water features. Read on to find out more.
About Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Fujairah
When you first see the mosque, you may instantly think of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, or Blue Mosque, in Istanbul, and indeed, this provided inspiration. Although built in the same traditional Ottoman style, there are some differences.
One is that the central dome is wider, at 45 metres (148 ft) and a more obvious one is that it is not blue inside, but red and gold.
Designed by Malaysian architectural firm Mabani Engineering Consulting, the concepts started taking shape in 2005. However, construction didn’t begin until 2013, with a deadline of 700 days to complete.
In September 2015, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Fujairah opened its doors and the Ruler of Fujairah, His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, led the first Eid prayer.
Covering an area of 39,019 m² (420,000 ft²), it has earned the title of the second largest mosque in the UAE. This, the guide tells us, is equivalent to the size of three football pitches.
While we’re talking numbers, the cost of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Fujairah was around AED200 million or US$55 million.
Six needle minarets clad in white marble stand between 89 and 100 metres (292 and 328ft) high, with the four tallest around the main prayer hall and two smaller ones at the other end of the courtyard. Each has three balconies.
Above the prayer hall and along the courtyard corridors are 65 domes of varying sizes. Domes are said to represent the vault of heaven but they can also help with acoustics.
The purpose of a minaret is for the call to prayer, or adhan, to be called up high so the sound will reach those all around. More minarets are often added to larger mosques such as this to make the presence of a large mosque known and also for aesthetic purposes. The English word minaret is from the Arabic minara, which means a place of light.
As a grand mosque, it has an inner courtyard to accommodate large numbers of worshippers for special prayers, like at Eid and Ramadan.
The courtyard, or sahn in Arabic, has corridors around all sides, with arches, domes, lanterns and openings to the outside. These openings allow air to circulate, making it a very comfortable place to sit, read the Quran, study, or contemplate. Traditionally, these areas in mosques were used for studying with religious teachers.
The courtyard can accommodate 14,000 worshippers while the prayer rooms can hold another 14,000, with room for 2,500 in the ladies’ prayer hall. Although the mosque doesn’t fill up for normal daily prayers, it’s likely to be pretty full for the Friday congregational prayers and the special evening prayers (tarawih) during Ramadan.
Once passing through the large wooden doors of the main prayer hall, you will see the inside of the domes embellished with red and gold. Around the domes and higher part of the walls are stained glass windows letting natural light enter the mosque.
Hanging down from the domes are glistening chandeliers. The central chandelier weighs a whopping seven tons or 7000kg and measures 18m (59ft) high and 13.5m (44ft) wide.
I won’t tell you exactly how many chandeliers there are so you can at least guess one of the tour guide’s questions but it’s not far off 500. Made in Egypt, the chandeliers are inspired by Ottoman design.
Below them is the large red carpet with a floral design. Surprisingly, it wasn’t made in any of the countries that might immediately come to mind. I’ll leave you to guess the answer to that question on the tour! (Or to cheat, go to the bottom of the page.)
As you look around, notice the other features which are found in every mosque. The mihrab, or niche, is a recess in the wall where the imam stands to lead the prayer. The prayer is performed in the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah.
The direction towards the Kaaba is called the qiblah and the mihrab always faces towards the qiblah. You may have seen this word in your hotel room or elsewhere. (The Kaaba is the rectangular building covered with black and gold cloth inside the Sacred Mosque in Makkah.)
Next to it is the minbar, or pulpit, where the imam will sit to give his sermon, or khutbah. This takes place before Friday prayers and after Eid prayers but he may also give talks there at other times.
Water features are a popular feature of grand mosques, adding to the beauty and sense of calm. In front of the entrance near the mihrab is a large pond with fountains. Another sits at the opposite end and around the perimeter of mosque are smaller fountains.
Mosques are not just places of prayer but also places of learning, and this one is no different. It has a religious study centre and children also come daily for Quran memorisation classes in groups. If you take the tour, it will also be a place of learning for you!
Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Fujairah is just as beautiful at night.
Fujairah Mosque Tour
Although you can explore the exquisite interior yourself, I recommend taking a guided tour of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Fujairah. The guides speak both Arabic and English and know just about everything there is to know about the mosque.
But before telling you all the facts, they’ll ask you to guess the answers to some of the questions. If you’re anything like me, you’ll have forgotten everything you just read by the time you get there anyway!
The mosque is wheelchair-friendly and wheelchairs are available for use.
Grand Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Fujairah Visiting Times
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Fujairah is open to visitors from 9am to 12pm every day except Friday. If Eid falls on this day, the mosque tours will most likely not be on but you can check this on the booking page.
How to book a tour of Fujairah Grand Mosque as a non-Muslim
It’s better to book online to ensure you get a slot but you can just turn up. You’ll still have to go through the registration process online, so it’s easier to do it in advance in the comfort of your home or hotel. If you don’t have internet access, you’ll need to it before turning up.
The tours are free. Book online at the Fujairah Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque website. Use this link to ensure you book on the correct website. Alternatively, check that it says Fujairah below the mosque logo on the website. It’s easy to end up on the Abu Dhabi mosque website by mistake.
When you arrive at the mosque, park at the courtyard end, not the main hall end. You will enter the main door facing the water feature. There is plenty of free parking near the entrance.
Dress code for visiting Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Fujairah
Both men and women should wear modest clothing. Women must be fully covered. This can be an abaya over your regular clothes or a full-length dress with a cardigan or shawl and a head scarf. Men’s clothing must go below the knees and cover shoulders and upper arms.
For both men and women, clothing should be loose and not tight or revealing. T-shirts, caps, etc. should not have pictures or slogans that may be offensive.
Final thoughts on Fujairah Grand Mosque
Whether you’re on a road trip in the UAE or stopping off at the Port of Fujairah on a cruise, Fujairah Grand Mosque should definitely be on your list of places to visit. You won’t be disappointed and will come away with a better understanding of Islamic architecture and have had a delightful interaction with a local Emirati tour guide.
To discover more Islamic attractions in the UAE, see also Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the Museum of Islamic Civilization, the Islamic World Garden or The Holy Quran Museum.
If you’d like to stay over in Fujairah, take a look at the 5-star Palace Beach Resort. Or if you’re looking for a halal getaway, see my post on Dibba Mountain Park and Resort, Fujairah.
Discover other attractions in Fujairah to combine with Fujairah Grand Mosque.
FAQs about Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Fujairah
- Can I get to Fujairah Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque by taxi? Yes, call 09-2244889 for Fujairah Taxis.
- Where was the carpet in Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Fujairah made? in Belgium.
- What is the locations
Other places to visit nearby Fujairah Grand Mosque
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