UAE/Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The number one site to visit in Abu Dhabi, the spectacular Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the eighth largest mosque in the world and is dazzling in super white color under the relentless desert sun. Construction was finished in 2007 and the mosque was meant to “unite the world” as it blended styles from Morocco to Iran and used natural construction materials from all over the world (from Germany to Greece to India to New Zealand and so on). It’s austere in its beautiful floral patterns, blue pools, and majestic columns from outside – and then beyond opulent inside with gold, gold, and more gold, and massive Svarovski crystal chandeliers. More than 40k people gather here at time of prayer.