UAE then and now: the mosque planned by Sheikh Zayed that became his final resting place
Use our interactive slider and scroll through the photo gallery to explore one of Abu Dhabi's main landmarks and the final resting place of the UAE's Founding Father
Today, life in the Emirates moves in the fast lane. In a regular series to mark the 50th anniversary of the UAE, we take a trip back in time to see how much the country has changed.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is many things. Its grounds are the final resting place of Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father, it is the largest mosque in the UAE, and it is the city’s most popular tourist destination - consistently number one on TripAdvisor.
The project was launched by Sheikh Zayed in the mid-1990s, with construction completed in the autumn of 2007, although landscaping work continued for many years after.
Though Sheikh Zayed did not live to see the mosque completed, following his death in 2004, he was buried in a courtyard tomb that was then part of the building site.
A construction worker on the site of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi in December 2005. Getty
Scaffolding surrounds part of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque during construction. Getty Images
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque under construction in December 2005. Getty Images
A view of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in December 2008. Nicole Hill / The National
A visitor at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in April 2008. Jaime Puebla / The National
Iftar at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on the first day of Ramadan in August 2009. Ryan Carter / The National
Worshippers make their way to evening prayer at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque after breaking their fast during Ramadan in August 2009. Ryan Carter / The National
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque silhouetted at sunset. Stephen Lock / The National
Worshipper gather at the grand mosque for Eid Al Adha prayers in November 2010. Rich Facun / The National
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque viewed from the air. Jaime Puebla / The National
A light show is projected on to the grand mosque in November 2011. Silvia Razgova / The National
Worshippers pray at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on the first morning of Eid Al Fitr in August 2012. Antonie Robertson / The National
Tourists visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in October 2013. Silvia Razgova / The National
Workers enjoy the view of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in October 2014. Silvia Razgova / The National
Visitors pass through the arched walkways of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque a day before Eid Al Adha begins in October 2014. Silvia Razgova / The National
The intricate designs of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National
A water feature reflects the intricate arches of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Reem Mohammed / The National
The supermoon rises behind Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in November 2016. Christopher Pike / The National
A visitor walks along the arched walkways at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in December 2017. Antonie Robertson / The National
Tourists walk past Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque as the sun sets before Eid Al Adha in August 2017. Christopher Pike / The National
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque opened to the public on December 20, 2007. Antonie Robertson / The National
The first photograph in the interactive slider was taken in December 2005, when the exterior was largely completed, along with the four minarets.
The mosque is made from concrete, but its facade is made of marble from North Macedonia - over 1.2 million square metres in total.
The building incorporates elements of Islamic architecture from all over the world, including Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan and Iran.
The artistic flourishes, featuring inlaid floral designs, use stone, gold leaf, semi-precious stones and ceramic tiles.
Inside, the 5,600-square-metre carpet in the main prayer hall is generally believed to be the largest in the world and was made by the Iran Carpet Company, which employed 1,200 weavers and used over 35 tonnes of wool and cotton in its creation.
Hanging from the ceiling are seven chandeliers made in Germany that contain millions of Swarovski crystals. The largest is 15 metres high and is cleaned via access from an internal staircase.
Each of the 99 names of God is inscribed on the qibla wall, while the external lighting reflects the phases of the Moon.
The mosque is open to non-Muslims outside of prayer times and famous visitors include Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles, INC president Rahul Gandhi, model Gigi Hadid, singer Dua Lipa and actor Hugh Jackman, to name a few.
Despite its obvious Instagram appeal, the vast majority of visitors respect the culture and values represented by the mosque, and it is now as recognisable a symbol of Abu Dhabi as the Eiffel Tower is of Paris or the Tower Bridge is of London.
Each Ramadan, the mosque welcomes tens of thousands of worshippers for iftar meals and taraweeh prayers, attracting about one million visitors during the holy month in 2019.
What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side 8 There are eight players per team 9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one. 5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls 4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
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THE DETAILS
Kaala
Dir: Pa. Ranjith
Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar
Rating: 1.5/5
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened. He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia. Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”. Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 640hp
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Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the German parliament that. Russia had erected a new wall across Europe.
"It's not a Berlin Wall -- it is a Wall in central Europe between freedom and bondage and this Wall is growing bigger with every bomb" dropped on Ukraine, Zelenskyy told MPs.
Mr Zelenskyy was applauded by MPs in the Bundestag as he addressed Chancellor Olaf Scholz directly.
"Dear Mr Scholz, tear down this Wall," he said, evoking US President Ronald Reagan's 1987 appeal to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
