Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Photographs by Haitham Al Mussawi (top left), Angie McMonigal (bottom left), and Haitham Al Mussawi (bottom right)

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Yusef Abdelki, 2007

Originally beginning construction in 1996, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque blends a variety of Islamic architectural elements to represent peace, tolerance, and diversity. The minarets feature stacked geometric layers that represent Mameluke, Ottoman, and Fatimid eras of Islamic design motifs. Featuring 82 domes, 1,000 columns, and multiple gilded chandeliers, the mosque is designed to accommodate up to 50,000 worshipers. Adorning the main prayer hall is the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet, which took 1,200 artisans two years to complete and features an intricate Islamic medallion design.