Prime Minister of Canada Visits Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – Abu Dhabi

His Excellency Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, visited Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – Abu Dhabi, accompanied by His Excellency Abdulrahman Ali Al Neyadi, UAE Ambassador to Canada, and His Excellency Radha Krishna Pandey, Canada’s Ambassador to the UAE, along with the accompanying delegation.

The delegation toured the mosque’s halls and external corridors, accompanied by His Excellency Dr. Yousef Al Obaidli, Director General of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre. His Excellency Dr. Al Obaidli outlined the history of the mosque’s establishment and its cultural mission, grounded in the values of coexistence, tolerance, and openness—principles inspired by the legacy of the late founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He also highlighted the Centre’s role in presenting the essence of moderate Islamic culture and strengthening avenues of cultural engagement worldwide.

Cultural Tour Specialist Aisha Mubarak provided an in-depth explanation of the mosque’s artistic and architectural features, highlighting refined expressions of Islamic civilisation across centuries—traditions that, despite their diversity, come together in the mosque’s design to embody harmony and unity in a single creative form.

The Prime Minister and the delegation also visited the mausoleum of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, reflecting on his enduring legacy and the far-reaching vision that laid the foundations for a culture of tolerance, coexistence, and peace.

On the sidelines of the visit, His Excellency remarked:
“What an extraordinary privilege to receive such an expert demonstration and guide to an absolutely extraordinary monument… apart from the sheer beauty and the inspiration that it provides, it unifies in so many different ways… it is truly humbling, inspiring for me to see… and a testament to Sheikh Zayed, a testament to the Emirati people to have conceived, created, built, and shared this with humanity… “

At the conclusion of the visit, the  guest a commemorative gift reflecting the mosque’s artistic identity, a compass inspired by the design of its chandeliers, and a copy of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: Lights of Peace, which showcases the mosque’s distinctive architectural character through a photographic journey featuring award-winning images from the “Spaces of Light” Photography Award.