| Building Name: | Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mosque |
| Native Name: | (Arabic: مَسْجِد ٱلشَّيْخ خَلِيْفَة بِن زَايِد آل نَهْيَان)
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| Map Type: | UAE#Persian Gulf#Middle East#West Asia |
| Map Size: | 265 |
| Map Relief: | 1 |
| Location: | Al Ain |
| Coordinates: | 24.226°N 55.747°W |
| Religious Affiliation: | Islam |
| Deity: | Allah (God) |
| Region: | Eastern Arabia |
| Territory: | Al-Ain |
| Municipality: | Al Ain City Municipality |
| Consecration Year: | 2021 |
| Functional Status: | Active |
| Ownership: | Government |
| Architecture Type: | Mosque |
| Architecture Style: | Andalusian and Umayyad architecture |
| Groundbreaking: | 2013 |
| Year Completed: | 2021 |
| Construction Cost: | AED 600 million (awarded) |
| Specifications: | Yes |
| Capacity: | Over 20,000
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| Site Area: |
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| Dome Quantity: | 1 |
| Dome Height Inner: | 31.3m (102.7feet) |
| Dome Dia Outer: | 86m (282feet) |
| Minaret Quantity: | 4 |
| Minaret Height: | 60m (200feet) |
Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mosque (ar|{{Script|Arab|مَسْجِد ٱلشَّيْخ خَلِيْفَة بِن زَايِد آل نَهْيَان), also known as Al Ain Grand Mosque, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Grand Mosque, or simply the Sheikh Khalifa Mosque (ar|{{Script|Arab|مَسْجِد ٱلشَّيْخ خَلِيْفَة),[1] [2] [3] is the largest mosque in the city of Al Ain in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and one of the largest mosques in the United Arab Emirates. Open to the public since 12 April 2021, it is named after Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who was the Ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the United Arab Emirates from November 2004 until his death in May 2022.[4] [5]
Construction of the mosque was awarded to Arabian Construction Company for AED 600 million.[6] It started in December 2013,[4] and was initially scheduled for completion in 2016.[5] Formerly, the biggest mosque in use in the city was that of Shaikhah Salamah, mother of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the father of Sheikh Khalifa.[7]
Nearby, a 1000-year-old mosque dated to the Islamic Golden Age, besides other remains relevant to the region's history, was unearthed in September 2018. Its age may make it the oldest mosque in the country.[8] [9]
After opening in 2021, Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region, offered prayers on 13 May.[10] [11]
See also: Islamic architecture.
The built-up area of the mosque is occupies an area of 15684m2, with the total area of the mosque being 256680m2.[12] With an indoor capacity of 6,433 worshippers, and an outdoor capacity of 14,029, its total capacity would be over 20,000. It has 4 minarets measuring about 60m (200feet) high, which are inspired by the Great Mosque of Samarra. Additionally, there is an arcade which connects the various parts of the mosque and rims the yard with an area of 7660m2. It was inspired by Andalusian and Umayyad architecture.
The main feature of the mosque is a huge dome, the largest of its kind in the country, which covers the main prayer-hall. Adorned with verses from the Quran, the dome has an interior height of 31.3m (102.7feet), an interior diameter of 75m (246feet), an exterior diameter of 86m (282feet), and a total area of 4117m2.