Nonna and I went to visit the Sheik Zayed Mosque one day when both the girls were at school. The Sheik that brought the current 7 Emirates together to form the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi and Dubai are both one of the 7) and the late president, constructed this mosque. He wanted a statement mosque and I think he succeeded! It is absolutely stunning. It is the largest mosque in the UAE and the 8th largest in the world. Inside is the largest single carpet in the world. Sheik Zayed is buried here and at his grave, there is a team of 10 or so men that read the Qur'an 24 hours a day. The tour we took was really interesting.
Inside
One interesting thing I learned that day--the imam, the person who leads the prayers, also faces Mecca and not the "congregation". He speaks into this niche and that is how his voice is projected back.
Nonna and I all covered. They provide you with an abaya that comes with an attached sheila (head covering).
I had on cropped jeans and so I was given a floor length abaya.
One interesting thing I learned that day--the imam, the person who leads the prayers, also faces Mecca and not the "congregation". He speaks into this niche and that is how his voice is projected back. 
I had on cropped jeans and so I was given a floor length abaya.
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