New lighting system of Shaikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi nears completion

Abu Dhabi: The Municipality of Abu Dhabi city is completing the installation of an exterior lighting system on Shaikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

It will be a unique and unprecedented model as it emulates the stages and phases of the moon in a colourful interaction of an electronic control system that reacts to the intensity, colour and grade of the moonlight and the surrounding sky colour, said a statement issued by the municipality.

Engineer Khawla Sulimai, Director of Shaikh Zayed Mosque Project, said the external lighting works have been designed by specialist consultant Spear and Major; and the design is the first of its kind in the world. During the full moon night, the mosque will look gleaming in white colour, she said.

But, when the moon moves and converts into a crescent, lighting will be gradually dimmed resembling a dark blue colour that will be in total harmony with the surrounding, she said.

The new system illustrates the ability to reflect optical geometric shapes resembling white nebular clouds emanating from the direction of Qiblah (Holy Makkah) towards the mosque, inciting a unique spiritual atmosphere, the official said.

The design has won two world-class awards: AIALD Award of Merits, and IES Award of Excellence, in addition to two other awards at the Middle Eastern level (MELDA) and Best Lighting System of a Public Building.

Shaikh Zayed Mosque is one of the largest mosques in the world, featuring the latest models of contemporary Islamic architectural styles. It has a capacity to accommodate up to forty thousand worshipers at a time.