Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi is absolutely STUNNING. Within an easy 90 minute drive it is also easily accessible on a day trip from Dubai. Constructed using white marble, it holds a similar resemblance to the Taj Mahal in India and as soon as you catch sight of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, you’ll get that “wow” moment.
Seeing as the mosque is so close to the airport it’s super convenient to visit on layover/ stopover (more on that below). The best part? It’s completely free! Allowing you to get a glimpse of the glistening capital of United Arab Emirates.
This solo female travellers guide to visiting Sheikh Zayed Mosque will give you tips on what to expect, what to wear and how to do it all whilst on a layover.
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Is Abu Dhabi safe for females travelling alone?
Yes, definitely. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are quite safe for solo female travellers and there are a lot of expats in both cities. I found the taxi drivers to be very friendly but also respectful and I felt perfectly safe getting into the taxi. Also the staff around the mosque very friendly and helpful and I have read many other reviews of female travellers feeling perfectly safe whilst travelling in the UAE.
I would say it always helps to be respectful with your dress and cover your knees and shoulders at least, to avoid unwanted attention. The mosque is extra strict in terms of dress but everywhere else is more relaxed.
How long does my layover need to be to visit Sheikh Zayed Mosque?
I had a stopover/ layover of 7 hours and found this the perfect amount of time. However I did get to the mosque 30 minutes before opening time due to my flight arriving early, so even with a 6 hour layover it’s definitely do-able.
Remember to factor in the time it takes to get to the mosque and the time you need to be back in the airport. This reduced my 7 hour stopover to 4 hours. If I was to do it again I would have gone with a longer stopover so I could see the Louvre as well but I just didn’t have time!
How do I leave the airport on a layover?
If you have connecting flights, when getting off the first flight you would usually continue to follow the signs for ‘connecting flights’. If you want to leave the airport on a layover then you will need to follow the signs for ‘arrivals/baggage claim’, and leave the airport.
Your checked bags should be going all the way to your final destination (do double check this!). This makes it easy as you can just walk out the airport with just your hand luggage.
When you return to the airport you will have to go back through security. You should already have your boarding pass for the second flight (if not you will have to check in again).
My return to the airport was really fast and I literally walked through within 15 minutes. This was at midday so it may have been a quiet time but generally it didn’t take long for me to exit or return to Abu Dhabi airport.
* Always allow for traffic (which I have read can get bad in Abu Dhabi) and make sure you get back to the airport in good time. If your second flight is international they will still recommended getting back 3 hours prior to departure.
How to get to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi
From Abu Dhabi airport:
Taxi: This couldn’t be easier. As soon as you walk out from the airport you will see the taxi rank right in front of you. They charge an airport fee so I paid 75 AED (ยฃ16 or 20 USD) from the airport to the mosque.
On the way back I paid 45 AED (ยฃ9 or 12 USD) *prices from May 2019. All taxis are run on the meter so no need to bargain! Journey time is roughly 20 minutes.
Bus: This is a much longer journey (around 50 mins) but also super cheap at 4.5 AEDย (ยฃ1 or 1.2 USD). From Terminal 1 you can get the A1 bus to Al Rawdhah, which stops around a 30 minute walk from the mosque. You can also then change to the 051 bus from the Abu Dhabi Zayed Sports Stadium opposite. This bus will be 2 stops and will get you within a 10 minute walk of Sheikh Zayed Mosque.
From Dubai:
Dubai is only a 90 minute drive from Abu Dhabi so can be easily done on a day trip. To get a taxi from Dubai to Abu Dhabi it will cost roughly around 250 AED (ยฃ53 or 68 USD).
| Looking for travel inspiration? Try readingย 5 Adventurous Countries Solo Female Travel |
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What to wear to Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi?
There is a very strict dress code for the mosque, particularly for women. Girls, you will need to have your hair, arms and legs covered. Only face, hands and feet can be showing. You also cannot wear anything transparent, tight or anything that shows the outline of your figure.
For most women they will direct you to a room where you’ll need to put on an abaya over your clothing. This is a very simple and quick process (if there are no queues). Find out more on the official site.
Men will need to have their shoulders and legs covered (no shorts).
| More tips on solo female travel:ย First Time Travelling Alone? Your Questions Answered. |
What’s the best time to visit Sheikh Zayed Mosque?
The mosque is open from 9am to 10pm, Saturday to Thursday, except Fridays, where the mosque opens from 4:30pm to 10pm (to allow for worship). During Ramadan it opens from 9am to 3pm and is closed altogether on Fridays.
*If you want to find out about the history of the mosque then check out the free guided tours here
For photographers I will say golden hour is best, although this may be a busy time. However the way the low sun lights up the mosque looks quite spectacular.
I went right bang on opening time at 9am and it was very quiet at this time but after an hour it was quite busy already. I would recommended getting there as the gates open and walking straight through into the mosque.
I stood around for a bit taking photos from the outside but if I’d have walked straight inside I would probably have had less people walking in the corridors. However there are several sections where you cannot enter, allowing for people-free photos at any time of day.
If you’re not a fan of the heat then early morning or late afternoon would be best- also Sheikh Zayed Mosque looks really cool at night so if you’ve got the time I would go back in the evening!
How long do I need for Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi?
I would say 3 hours. It sounds a lot but there is so much to see, plus you will literally want to stop every 5 minutes to take a photo! There are also some well kept gardens outside the mosque to take a look at. If you are visiting at a busy time, allow for waiting to change into the abayas and to collect any bags from the cloakroom.
Can I leave my bags anywhere?
Yes. There is an airport style security gate you need to walk through and they will tell you to put any big bags in the cloakroom. They give you a number badge to keep and give back when you’re finished visiting- much like how you would at a museum or art gallery.
I was there at opening so there wasn’t many people arrived yet but I found the process super easy and efficient. And it meant I didn’t have to take my heavy hand luggage bag around with me.
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Is there anywhere to eat close by?
Yes, there is a Coffee Club by the entrance (and by the looks of it they are also building more dining places, soon to come). The Coffee Club opens 30 minutes before the mosque opens so is a great place to grab a bite before exploring.
*During Ramadan it will still be open but will have a black sheet covering the entrance.
My visitย Abu Dhabi was soooo worth it- plus what a great way to take a break from 2 long flights! It was the perfect way to break up my journey- I just wish I had given myself longer as there’s so many other things to see in Abu Dhabi.
Visiting Sheikh Zayed Mosque as a solo female traveller felt fun and adventurous and just makes me wants to travel more in the United Arab Emirates. Have you been to the UAE? Tell me below!
