The Sheikh Khalifa Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in Al Ain and one of the more architecturally distinguished religious buildings in the emirate outside Abu Dhabi. Completed in the 2000s, it follows the classical Gulf mosque form — a large central dome flanked by minarets, with an expansive marble-floored courtyard — but executed with the quality of materials and finish that large UAE public projects typically achieve.
Non-Muslim visitors are welcome outside prayer times. The interior is cool, calm, and impressively scaled, with intricately worked plasterwork on the walls and traditional geometric tilework. Modest dress is required: women need a headscarf and should cover arms and legs; men should wear long trousers. Abayas and scarves are usually available for loan at the entrance if you need them.
Visiting a working mosque rather than a heritage site gives you a better sense of religious life in the Emirates than any museum display can manage. Arrive between prayers — check the day's schedule before you go, as times shift with the season — and allow 30 to 40 minutes to walk the courtyard and explore the interior. The mosque sits in a residential area northwest of the city centre; taxis know it by name.