I had a long overnight layover in Abu Dhabi and decided to check into a hotel to get some sleep before heading to explore the city’s major attraction. You will need a transit visa to enter the UAE.

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UAE transit visa

Getting a free UAE transit visa valid for 48 hours is very simple and easy.

Go to www.etihad.com (even if you are not flying Etihad Airlines). There is an option to apply for a 48-hour transit visa. The procedure is pretty simple. You should have your flight details, passport number, etc. After filling in the form, submit it online and within a few hours, you will receive your visa. Take a printout of it and make sure your name and other details are correct. Double-check on the name since they require a specific format. I remember receiving my application back to make some corrections.

Upon arrival at Abudhabi International Airport, follow the sign and wait at the immigration counter. Once your turn comes, you will be presenting your passport. They did not ask for the visa since all the details were there while scanning the passport. After the fingerprints and biometrics, the passport was stamped and I went to collect my baggage since my onward flight was with a different airline. Immigration was super easy.

Reaching the Hotel in the city centre from the airport

It was in the middle of the night and I initially looked for the bus but the next bus was some 30 minutes later. Even in the middle of the night, it was so hot. You can find a few ATMs. I withdrew some cash and managed to get a taxi for 80 AED.

I booked a room at the Corniche Hotel in the city centre. There is one airport hotel that was almost full and the available rooms were extremely expensive. There was another one a few kilometres away in the middle of nowhere. Anyway, my plan was to mainly visit the Grand Mosque. Ideally, you should find a hotel near the airport if you plan on visiting just the mosque. This way you would save time and the taxi fare would be comparatively less.

Corniche Hotel is some 35 minutes from the airport. It was nice to get an upgrade to a suite. The view of the Arabian Sea from my room was gorgeous. I overslept and had to skip my breakfast. After getting some quality sleep, I was ready to get to the Grand Mosque. Since I had to check out at night, I had to rule out the idea of going for an evening desert safari. Here is what I did during my layover in Abu Dhabi.

A few things to note before planning a visit to the mosque

  • Entry is free. I received my access pass online https://visit.szgmc.gov.ae/. You just need to scan the pass at various points at the mosque for entry.
  • You have to strictly follow the dress code. You have to be literally covered from head to toe. I decided to wear flared yoga pants and an oversized top. You should not be wearing tight-fitting clothes. The instructions are given on the website. However, if you are not dressed appropriately, the staff at the entrance will inform you and there are shops from where you can buy gowns. Men are also expected to follow a certain dress code.
  • Another important thing to be noted is not to point your fingers at anything or anyone since it is against their culture.
  • Having food within the premises is also prohibited. The Grand Mosque is not just a popular destination among tourists but is also a religious place. So, respecting their culture and religious sentiments is of utmost importance.
  • There will be signboards where photography is allowed. There are a number of photo stops.
  • Don’t forget to wear your sunglasses if you are visiting during the day. The marble here is so dazzlingly white that the reflection of the sun on it is almost blinding.

Interesting facts about the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

  • The mosque is the largest mosque in the UAE.
  • It has the largest hand-knotted carpet in the world
  • It has one of the world’s largest chandeliers with thousands of Swarovski crystals
  • The mosque can accommodate over 40000 worshippers
  • it took almost 12 years to complete the construction of this massive mosque, which was inaugurated in 2007.
  • The mosque features 82 domes with a combination of Morrocan and Ottoman architecture

Getting to the Mosque

I took a taxi from outside the hotel to the mosque. The roads looked very good and the desert feeling was felt everywhere. I went there in the afternoon when the sun was at its peak. At times, it feels like you are in India as you can find a lot of Indians, Indian stores, and restaurants.

You can also take a bus to get there but the frequency isn’t great. It took about 15 minutes to reach the mosque.

Entering the Grand Mosque

The moment I could get a sight of the mosque, I was left in total awe. Once you enter, you will feel it is ‘grand’ in every sense, true to its name… The sheer size and the grandeur are nothing short of extraordinary. Walking through the courtyard, the reflective pools give a soothing effect from the strong sun rays.

As you enter, you will be greeted by friendly staff for any assistance. You can rarely go wrong since at every point, there is someone checking if everything is fine. I was asked to cover my head several times since my scarf kept slipping off due to excessive perspiration. It would be best to wear a thick cotton scarf and pin it up.

The gleaming white domes and minarets and the intricate floral inlays on the pillars were captivating. It is a true testament to craftsmanship.

As I stepped inside, I found myself in an impressive and magnificent main prayer hall. The glittering beautiful chandeliers with gold-plated accents are amazing. I am not done admiring the beauty of the largest chandelier and I find the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet on the floor. It was indeed a sight to remember.

Is it worth a visit?

Despite all the strict rules, the mosque is definitely worth a visit.

I am happy to have visited this beautiful mosque. It was great to get a glimpse of the Emirati culture. If you are on a layover(even a short one), I recommend visiting this beautiful mosque since it is very close to the airport. Expect to spend about 3 hours in total in the mosque. All in all, it was a very nice day visiting one of the most beautiful mosques that I’ve seen. I am glad I got a chance to visit the Grand Mosque during a layover since I wouldn’t have planned a separate trip to visit Abu Dhabi.

On return, took a taxi back to the hotel.  On the way, the driver suggested to have a look at the Emirates Palace. This is where you can have a Golden Cappucino. I mean real 24-carat gold flakes in your coffee. It is priced at around 80 AED. Well, I didn’t try it. I had my lunch in the food court of Marina Mall.

Reached my hotel and rested for a while before checking out. The taxi fare to the airport was AED 60. If you have a layover in Abu Dhabi and have time just to visit one place here, then it should be the Grand Mosque. If you have a little more time and depending on your interests, you can add a desert safari and visit the gold souk as well.