Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister visits Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The tour comes a day after the UAE and Moldova signed a mutual waiver of entry visas to facilitate tourism and business exchange.
Bobescui, accompanied by Dr. Yousef Al Obaidli, Director-General of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, toured the halls and external corridors, and was briefed about the mosque's message of coexistence and tolerance.
The tour also showcased the mosque's unique collections, showcasing the finest art and architectural designs from Islamic civilisation throughout the ages.
Bobescui also visited the tomb of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
At the end of the tour, he was presented with a copy of the book Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: A Stream of Peace that highlights the mosque's architectural art through a collection of photos that won the "Spaces of Light" award.
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They also allow us to consistently enrich the guest experience through religious and cultural programmes, exhibitions, and initiatives that reflect the mosque's message - presented in innovative formats and a refined manner that meets aspirations and fulfils our vision.'The high international rankings achieved by SZGM in Abu Dhabi underscore its global distinction as a unique model among places of worship and cultural landmarks, serving as a benchmark in the region and beyond. Its role extends beyond that of a religious site hosting prayers and rituals - it stands out as a beacon of civilisation and culture, advancing the UAE's message of peaceful coexistence and SZGM also revives and celebrates the elements of Islamic civilisation, embodying a distinctive architectural representation of Islamic art and heritage. It has established itself as a singular cultural tourism destination, welcoming more than seven million visitors and worshippers annually from across the globe. Within its serene spaces, people of different cultures and faiths come together, forming a human tapestry framed by values of fraternity -within a sanctuary of peace and coexistence. Shared human values bind them, and the language of civilisational dialogue becomes the bridge through which they transcend all SZGMC is steadfast in its continuous development of diverse, integrated services across all its landmarks and facilities, maintaining the highest standards to meet the evolving needs of its guests. At the SZGM in Abu Dhabi, visitors can spend an entire day enjoying a wide array of offerings - from the visitor centre, which includes exhibition halls, an auditorium, and a library, to Souq Al Jami', featuring shops, recreational spaces, and restaurants catering to all age groups. These facilities offer moments of rest and enjoyment within a unique atmosphere, further complemented by the mosque's jogging track that invites community members of all backgrounds to engage in physical activity while taking in the breathtaking exterior views of the SZGMC operates under a strategic plan, implemented through a cohesive system led by highly skilled professionals across various disciplines. These national talents work to provide exceptional cultural experiences to visitors from around the world. Among the most distinguished of these are the cultural tours, which are delivered by a select group of Emirati Cultural Tour Specialists who represent the UAE's civilisational identity and promote its message of peace and to its prestigious global standing, the SZGM has become a key destination for high-level dignitaries visiting the UAE. Overseas visitors account for approximately 82 per cent of its total guests. In the first half of the current year, the SZGMC continued to expand its innovative services and experiences, contributing to a notable rise in visitor numbers. Among the most prominent offerings are the general cultural tours and the 'Unseen Glimpses' tours - guided experiences delivered aboard custom electric club cars that offer guests exclusive insights into areas previously unexplored by the experiences are part of an integrated set of high-standard services and activities, including Souq Al Jami, the mosque's jogging track, and the Sura evening tours, which grant visitors access to the mosque 24 hours a day. The Sura experience is designed for visitors to Abu Dhabi and the UAE who are on short transit stays or unable to visit during regular hours. 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Exploring Mleiha: Where early humans lived hundreds and thousands of years ago
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'Layers from this time around 130,000 years ago have yielded the earliest known evidence for the appearance of 'Anatomically Modern Humans' outside the African continent.'This site has a natural attraction for visitors, not only today but also during many thousands of years in the past when early humans used it as a 'rock shelter' during the Ice Ages,' reads an inscription at the Age refers to any geologic period during which thick ice sheets cover vast areas of land. The most recent major ice age, known as the Great Ice Age or Pleistocene Epoch, spanned approximately 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago, according to Britannica. The Neolithic PeriodWhen it comes to the Neolithic Period, also known as the New Stone Age, the Mleiha area holds particular importance, especially in Southeast Arabia. 'When Neolithic people came to this region around 8,000 BCE, the cold and dry period of the last phase of the Ice Age was just over. During that time, nobody lived in the Inland Basin. The Neolithic people already had cattle, sheep and goats as livestock animals, but did not cultivate plants. … Careful excavations of funeral sites have provided insight into burial practices,' according to the from this period led a nomadic lifestyle and did not leave much architecture behind; however, hearths are the most important indicators of Neolithic life in the Inland Basin. Offering vital clues through carbon dating, fireplaces discovered in the Mleiha area are believed to have been left behind by its Neolithic inhabitants between 10,000 and 6,000 years ago. The Bronze Age When metal began to replace stone as material for tools starting around 3,200 BCE, a new era had emerged: the Bronze on key archaeological sites, this period is divided into sub-phases, including the Hafit phase after graves found at Jebel Hafit near Al Ain, the Umm an-Nar and Wadi-Sug phases, and a final phase known as the Late Bronze Age, offering insights into the transition from the Bronze to the Iron graves are mostly small cairns, circular monuments made of undressed stones with a small grave chamber inside. They are typically positioned along mountain crests. At Emeilah, large Hafit graves were found at the foot of the Jebel, which are collective graves presumably for the Umm an-Nar phase, tombs reflect perfect masonry and feature multiple large Umm an-Nar Tomb close to the Mleiha Archaeological Centre is among the major funeral sites in the area, constructed around 2300 BCE. Used for approximately 200 years, it's among the largest sites from the Umm an-Nar period across Southeast Wadi-Suq phase, from around 2,000 BCE onward, sees the uniformity of funerary monuments start to change. 'Strict burial rules do not exist anymore, and tomb shapes become quite variable. The idea of collective graves continues, but their architecture is different in comparison to that of previous ones,' according to information displayed at the highlight of the era was the oasis culture. The Mleiha plain was very suitable for oasis culture, which not only allowed for the harvest of agricultural plants and fruits all year round but also for the storage of them. Since these times, dates have become the most important staple food. The Iron Age This period, lasting from 1,200 to 400 BCE, in the Mleiha region is well represented in many graves and by the settlement of settlement, a well-preserved agricultural hamlet near Al Madam, points to water management and the use falaj, an ancient irrigation method which used a network of underground and surface channels to move water where it's needed. Faunal remains shed light on the importance of sheep and goat husbandry. Thuqeibah ceased to exist when the water table became too low to be tapped with the means available during that the highlights were the remains of a large communal well found in the settlement area. The Late Pre-Islamic Period Heralding a new cultural phase in Arabia, this period is primarily defined through excavations at two major sites: Mleiha and Ed-Dur in Umm Al nomadic newcomer to the region favoured Mleiha due to its outstanding hydrological highlights of the era include a marble hoard found in Mleiha, dating back to around first century BCE to first century CE. The vessels were most likely imported from South Arabia (Yemen).'The presence of South Arabian vessels in Mleiha is another interesting indicator of foreign influence. Alabaster was used in antiquity as a material for containing unguents and perfumes,' according to the appearance of currency is another notable aspect of this era with more than 300 coins discovered in Mleiha. Mleiha Fort Revealing insights into the social order of the era was the Mleiha Fort, discovered underneath the old road from Mleiha to Al Madam in 1990. The fortified building belongs to the latest phase of Mleiha. 'The political power might have been located in this building which had an upper storey,' according to the to the captivating discoveries is the gravestone of Amud, son of Gurr son of 'Ali, inspector of the King of Oman. A replica of the tombstone showcases funerary inscription consisting of five lines written in South Arabian script on the central panel and additional text in the same language on the surrounding edges. 'The use of script also was a far-reaching new introduction. Its system originated from the South Arabian and Aramaic script. The language is Hasaitic, a northeast Arabian dialect. The script is found on tomb-slabs, bronze funerary plaques, on copper-vessels and pottery,' read the information provided at the museum. Desert Trails and Adventures Located in Sharjah's Mleiha town, the Mleiha Archaeological Centre is open daily from 9am to 7pm Saturday to Wednesday, and from 9am to 9pm on Thursday and from archaeological tours, the site offers a wide range of experiences. Adventurers can get a chance to catch a glimpse of free-roaming gazelles or wild foxes, or hop on dune buggy tours. One can also go for sky adventures; watch the stars; ride horses; or try glamping and sand surfing. The destination provides a fun, immersive educational experience, deeply rooted in Mleiha's heritage and history. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
