Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque opens scholars exhibition on 30 October
Published on 10/31/2026 at 19:22 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSExhibition and visitor access
- The Centre launched the second phase in Abu Dhabi on 30 October 2026.
- The programme covers Geography, Literature and Sociology at the Dome of Peace.
- The mosque opened in 2007 after construction began in 1996.
- Diya adds a 360-degree presentation with sound and light for visitors.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi has launched the second phase of the Contributions of Muslim Scholars initiative on 30 October 2026. The exhibition and related programme examine Geography, Literature and Sociology at the mosque’s Visitor Centre.
Scholars exhibition opens at the Visitor Centre
The initiative is organised by the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, which announced the launch through the Emirates News Agency. Its second phase presents an exhibition about Muslim scholars, cultural dialogue sessions, a visual series and activities for visitors.
The geography section examines Muhammad al-Idrisi, Ibn Battuta and Zakariya al-Qazwini, focusing on descriptions of countries, the recording of peoples’ lives and early efforts to map the world. The literature section explores al-Hariri and al-Mutanabbi, while the sociology section presents the ideas of Ibn Rushd and Ibn Khaldun.
The programme also included the dialogue sessions Ibn Khaldun and Understanding Societies and Literature and Sociology: From Heritage to Modernity. A workshop called Make Your Own Book: In the Footsteps of Muslim Scholars invited participants to respond to the subject through drawing and writing. The 30 October launch announcement identifies the mosque as the venue and the Centre as the organiser.
The Dome of Peace connects scholarship and architecture
The exhibition is in the Dome of Peace at the Visitor Centre. The same area contains the Light & Peace Museum, which presents Islamic civilisation through artefacts and interactive displays, and Diya, an immersive presentation using 360-degree technology, sound and light.
This arrangement places the new exhibition beside permanent cultural facilities rather than in the mosque’s main prayer spaces. It links the programme’s focus on knowledge with a visitor area already devoted to Islamic intellectual and artistic heritage.
Construction of the mosque began in 1996 and was completed in 2007. The building includes 1,096 exterior columns, 82 domes and a main prayer hall containing one of the world’s largest carpets. The official Centre describes its cultural tours as part of the visitor offer and records the mosque’s opening history on its official visitor information page.
Visiting Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Contributions of Muslim Scholars exhibition is at the Dome of Peace in the Visitor Centre and launched on 30 October 2026.
- The exhibition is available during the mosque’s official visiting periods, while the programme also includes cultural talks and the Make Your Own Book workshop.
- The complex is in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and the Centre provides visitor access information and electronic entry booking through its official website.
- The site includes large courtyards, prayer halls, reflective pools and extensive walking areas, so visitors should expect movement across a substantial architectural complex.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
The exhibition gives a current cultural reason to include the mosque’s Visitor Centre in an Abu Dhabi itinerary during the period beginning 30 October 2026.
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Frequently asked questions about Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
When did the new exhibition open at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque?
The second phase of Contributions of Muslim Scholars launched on 30 October 2026. It is located in the Dome of Peace at the Visitor Centre.
What is the Contributions of Muslim Scholars exhibition?
It is a cultural exhibition covering Geography, Literature and Sociology through the work of named Muslim scholars, supported by talks and a workshop.
Where is Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and how do you get there?
It is in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Visitor access and electronic entry information are provided by the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre.
