The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi stands as one of the world's most recognizable architectural masterpieces, attracting millions of visitors every year with its breathtaking design and pristine white marble structures. As part of an initiative to enhance the illumination of two distinctive glass dome structures located within the mosque grounds, a new lighting solution was required that could deliver vibrant color, reliable outdoor performance, and seamless control while preserving the site's architectural integrity. Following a competitive on-site evaluation, ADJ’s IP65-rated Encore LP32IP LED-powered wash fixtures were selected to bring the domes to life.
The project was delivered by ICONICA Design & Supply, responsible for supplying and installing the lighting system, working in collaboration with ADJ’s UAE distributor, GSL Professional. The installation, which took place in early 2025, replaced an aging lighting system that had originally been fitted when the mosque was constructed in 2007.
"When the Mosque was first constructed, strip lighting was installed to illuminate the domes," explains Jasper Bryan of GSL Professional. "Over the years, most of those fixtures had failed, and the client was looking for a replacement solution. Initially, the ADJ fixtures were intended as a temporary installation while the original system was renovated, but the results were so effective that the client decided to keep them as a permanent solution."
The project's primary objective was to illuminate the two glass domes in both crisp white and rich blue tones, matching the wider lighting scheme used throughout the mosque complex. Achieving this required fixtures capable of delivering powerful output, excellent color saturation, and dependable operation in an outdoor environment.
A total of 32 ADJ Encore LP32IP LED wash fixtures were deployed, complete with barndoors to precisely shape the light output. To optimize coverage and beam spread, the installation also incorporated eight ELP32L20 20-degree frost filters and eight ELP32L60 60-degree frost filters.
Featuring 32 potent 20-Watt 4-in-1 (red, green, blue, lime) color mixing LEDs arranged into 8 individually controllable sections, the Encore LP32IP is a powerful and versatile fixture. It features a robust IP65-rating external casing and a tough, multifunctional bracket that can serve as a floor stand or be fitted with omega brackets for truss mounting. The fixture’s selection for the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque project followed a direct comparison with competing products from other manufacturers during an on-site fixture shootout.
"At least two other brands were considered," Jasper explains. "The client ultimately chose the Encore LP32IP because of the quality and saturation of the color output, particularly the blue, as well as its overall cost effectiveness."
The fixtures are mounted externally on eight custom-fabricated decorative towers, with four positioned around each dome at a distance of approximately 30 meters. Designing these structures presented a unique challenge, given the significance of the location and the need to maintain the mosque's renowned aesthetic standards.
"The eight light towers had to be fabricated to match the mosque's exterior design," recalls Jasper. "Multiple design iterations were submitted before the client approved the final tower design. Because of the prestige and importance of the site, every detail had to complement the existing architecture."
Another significant challenge arose from the fact that the domes are surrounded by water, making it impossible to run traditional signal cabling to the fixtures. Fortunately, the Encore LP32IP's integrated wireless DMX capability provided an elegant solution.
"Because the domes are surrounded by water, there was no practical way to run DMX cables to the lighting towers," says Bryan. "We were able to overcome this entirely using the Encore LP32IP's integrated wireless antenna and the robust Aria X2 wireless protocol."
The wireless control system comprises four Aria X2 Bridge transceivers, with two installed inside each dome to transmit DMX signals to all 32 fixtures. Control is provided via an ADJ myDMX5 interface and software package, programmed with a selection of simple user-friendly scenes for white illumination, blue illumination, and blackout operation. Two ADJ D4 Branch RM DMX splitters distribute the signal from the control interface to the wireless transmitters.
"The wireless control was a huge benefit for the client," continues Jasper. "The myDMX software was programmed with straightforward scenes that are very easy to operate, which made the system extremely user friendly."
The completed installation has delivered a striking visual enhancement to the mosque grounds, with the glass domes now illuminated by vibrant, uniform color that complements the wider architectural lighting design across the site. More importantly, the system has continued to perform reliably since its installation.
"The client has been extremely pleased with the result," concludes Jasper. "The combination of fixture performance, wireless control and ease of operation has worked very well. In fact, we haven't heard from them regarding the project for over a year now, which is always a good sign that everything is continuing to operate exactly as intended."
Venue
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Abu Dhabi
www.szgmc.gov.ae
ADJ Distributor
GSL Professional
www.gslprofessional.com
Lighting Supply & Installation
ICONICA Design & Supply
www.iconica.ae
Gear List
32 x Encore LP32IP
32 x BAR032 Barn Doors
8 x ELP32L20 (20° frost filter)
8 x ELP32L60 (60° frost filter)
4 x Aria X2 Bridge
2 x D4 Branch RM
1 x myDMX5
