How Long Did It Take to Build Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque?

The question how long did it take to build may have two meaning: 

•    Refer to the actual time it took to complete the construction or
•    The whole building process from planning to opening 

To better understand how long it took to build Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque we will look at from planning to the opening. 

Planning (late 1980s)

The idea to build the mosque plans began in 1980s. In this stage there was decision which were made such the purpose of the building, scale, location, design direction, and long-term functionality, are part of this stage.

Construction began in 1996

After years 0of planning and making the decision, the real construction began in November 1996. The building took several years and many engineers and architectures were involved. 

Opening in 2007 (following a worship-first progression)

In 2007 the mosque was opened to worshippers for first time and later it became one of the most visited tourist destination in Abu Dhabi. 

The mosque serves as a main place of worship first and the tourists attraction where visitors get to tour the mosque appreciate its architecture and learn its history. 

When you read that it was completed in 2007, it is normally the Mosque that was brought into the public life, first of all the visitors and then the worshipers.

So What is the Real Build Time?

It is a matter of your definition.

Suppose you are talking of construction time-1996 to 2007 = about 11 years.

This is the figure most individuals refer to it as it is the easiest to measure.
Assuming the entire project schedule-Late 1980s to 2007 = roughly two decades.

That covers the conceptual and planning stage preceding the commencement of the construction, which in most landmark-sized projects is usually tremendous.

It can be merely stated that:

•    About 11 years to build,
•    Closer to 20 years between idea and opening.

It took around 10 year to complete building this mosque given its size and when the quality of the completion is among the objectives.

The following are the reasons why building took a decade to complete.

1) It is not a single but a complicated building

Having a mosque, most individuals imagine a single hall with a dome. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a complex one: several spaces, big courtyards, extensive arcades, great interior areas, supporting facilities, and visitor movement.

Complexes are slower since it has to be collective. Not only is the building standing. It is “does the site work well when full-size?

2) Scale multiplies decisions

In case a site is developed to accommodate very large crowds, small design choices make big operation choices.

For example:
•    How people enter and exit,
•    Where queues naturally form,
•    How broad ways of circulation should be,
•    How change of planes averts congestion,
•    How the inside and the outside spaces complement one another.

Big websites usually need to be more polished since errors are not minor. There is no convenience in a narrow passage in a little building; in a landmark where vast numbers of people are seen it is a narrowing.

3) Finishing work isn’t “extra”

Monumental architecture consumes a lot of build time in finishing; surfaces, pattern of surfaces, detailing, alignment, lighting and the sense of cohesion that makes the final place look relaxed not disordered.
That is, the Mosque did not simply have to be fully ready. It had to be whole, coherent, and purposeful in any area of significance.

Being aware of the timeline of the construction alters the way you perceive the on-site experience.

It describes why the Mosque is considered timeless.

The Mosque has such a timeless effect that it is confused with age. This is not the case, as the timeline is modern and meant to be long lasting.

Then when you observe how the symmetry is balanced, how the patterns seem to be stable at cross-spaces, and how serene the layout is, you may read that as a conscious design decision that was executed during the course of a long construction-period - not by chance.

It makes you feel why it is not only scenic but operational space.

The mosque is a place of worship and later became a tourist destination. That is why rules, manners and order are also important. You do not work in a display building. You are located in an operating religious place, and also have visitors.

It reminds you that the details are included in the project, and not ornamentation.

Tourists usually complain, the information is not real. The reason is the time: information is time-consuming. Long construction is not only a question of scale, but also of the degree of completeness.

The construction period of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque extended to 11 years starting in 1996 when it was constructed to the opening day in 2007.

With the late 1980s add-on to the early planning stage, the entire process of idea to opening range can be about two decades.

It is natural that the Mosque was built over an extended period when it is viewed as a complex of landmarks that should work as a whole at the scale, and finishing and detail were not only necessary but also indispensable.