picturingjordan.com/content/posts/sheikh-zayed-mosque-pearl-aqaba.md

+++
author = "Alan Orth"
date = "2016-10-11T12:06:06+03:00"
title = "Sheikh Zayed Mosque: the Pearl of Aqaba"
images = ["/2016/10/DSC_0024.JPG"]
slug = "sheikh-zayed-mosque-pearl-aqaba"
description = "The pearl of Aqaba is an elegant white mosque by the sea."
categories = ["Architecture"]
tags = ["Mosque", "Aqaba"]
+++

{{< figure src="/2016/10/DSC_0024.JPG" title="Beautiful mosque by the sea, surrounded by palm trees" alt="Beautiful mosque by the sea, surrounded by palm trees" >}}

The best way to describe the Sheikh Zayed mosque would be "the pearl of Aqaba." There is a lot to love about this picturesque mosque by the Jordanian seaside, but its crown jewel — to continue the analogy — is the impeccable Arabic calligraphy inlaid in its facade. Sadly, Aqaba itself [isn't much to write home about]({{< relref "posts/aqaba-dirty-disappointing.md" >}}).

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Originally built in 1975, the mosque was refurbished in 2010 as part of a larger [effort to revitalize the Red Sea port city](http://www.marsazayed.com/) and was modeled after the [Sheikh Zayed Grand mosque](http://www.szgmc.gov.ae/en/) in Abu Dhabi.