This is the city's most photographed mosque and the only one where non-Muslim visitors can take a tour inside. Tours are arranged by the Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding. There are tours in the morning and afternoon. It's best to consult the website for exact hours. The tour lasts about two hours and you are allowed to take photos inside. Be sure to wear modest clothing when entering a Muslim place of worship. The mosque was first constructed in the 1970s and officially opened in 1979. The large building can hold 1,200 worshipers and was built in the Medieval Fatimid style of 909-1171AD. The mosque features on the UAE 500 dirham banknote. The interior has exquisite intricate artwork, mosaics and a high ceiling supported by elegant pillars and arches. In accordance with Muslim tradition the décor bears no images of living beings but instead is adorned with mosaics and murals of plants and Arabic calligraphy. The colors used in the interior mosaics and murals are pale blue, gold, cream and brown. Beneath the dome gorgeous intricate patterns have been painted in shades of yellow and gold. The floor of the main prayer room is carpeted from wall to wall. The exterior features the traditional domes and minarets and is completely off-white. There is a circular washing area for worshipers to perform the ritual washing – the act of Wudu.