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Look: Sheikh Zayed mosque's chandeliers undergo 45-day maintenance

Abu Dhabi - Forty-five people worked 12 hours every day, except Fridays, to finish the maintenance work.

The seven exquisite, iconic chandeliers of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque recently underwent maintenance — and it had been a grand project on its own.

With a taskforce of topnotch Emirati engineers assembled, it took 45 people 45 days to finish a complete overhaul of the chandelier system.

All the special attention given to the massive maintenance work was anchored on a goal to preserve the chandeliers, said the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre (SZGMC).

“(It) is carried out as part of a strategic plan adopted by SZGMC to ensure future generations can continue to appreciate the mosque’s rich architecture,” said Salem Al Suwaidi, director of support services at SZGMC.

The chandeliers, he added, are a significant component of the iconic design of the world-famous mosque.

These spectacular lights are a tourist attraction on their own, a breath-taking work of art for the millions of people who visit the mosque every year. They embody the details of Islamic architecture at its finest.

The beauty of the chandeliers blends seamlessly and cohesively with the medallion and ornamental design on the hand-knotted magnificent carpet below, creating an integrated artistic ensemble. The carpet with colorful crystal pieces hanging overhead resembles a vast stretch of water reflecting vibrant colours.

The largest chandelier in the main prayer hall is 15.5 meters tall, measures 10m in diameter, and weighs nearly 12 tonnes. Incorporating 15,500 LED lights, it features a spiral staircase in its trunk to allow maintenance personnel to climb to the top to complete the cleaning work or fix any faults. Using a scaffolding platform, the middle of the cylindrical section of the chandelier can be lowered to a certain level to allow for seamless maintenance.

Doing the maintenance work required the team to work 12 hours every day, except Friday, for a month and a half. Besides engineers, there was a project manager, a site supervisor, technicians, and health and safety supervisors.

“The maintenance of the chandeliers is performed in compliance with the highest international standards, as they capture the attention of a huge number of visitors every day. We are proud of the contributions made by our Emirati workforce in ensuring the timely completion of the maintenance work that demanded meticulous attention to detail, and adherence to highest international quality standards. Such efforts are crucial in maintaining the iconic status of this landmark that has in a short period of time become a key religious and cultural destination,” Al Suwaidi said.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com