Back to where we started that first evening, in the night shot below. Quite a difference between the two images!

I’m going to end this gallery here. Thanks so much for the great interest in it – the mosque was truly spectacular, and everywhere I turned was another scene begging to be photographed. This is one of those places I’d love to return to and see in different light, and perhaps spend more time there in the evening, too. Who knows, Abu Dhabi is fairly close to Riyadh; just next time I’ll be sure to get a visa in advance because the UAE immigration authorities almost didn’t let us into the country (due to our diplomatic passports and lack of a visa secured in advance).

The Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque can accommodate up to 40,000 worshippers, has four minarets, more than 80 domes and 1,000 pillars holding it all up. The interior has elements from Turkey, Morocco and the Taj Mahal exhibited in marble, gold, semi-precious stones, crystals and ceramics. It hosts the world’s largest Persian carpet, which took 2.000 artisans two years to complete and seven gold-plated crystal chandeliers. (Summary from Lonely Planet’s “Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsula”)

The same scene at night, which started this gallery: