ADJ Encore LP32IP fixtures have been installed to illuminate the glass domes of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. The IP65-rated LED-powered wash fixtures were selected following a competitive on-site evaluation to replace an aging system originally fitted in 2007.
The project was delivered by ICONICA Design & Supply in collaboration with ADJ UAE distributor GSL Professional. Installation took place in early 2025. While initially intended as a temporary solution during renovations, the client retained the fixtures as a permanent installation due to the effective results.
The project 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 Encore LP32IP fixtures were deployed, mounted on eight custom-fabricated decorative towers positioned around the domes at a distance of approximately 30 meters. The fixtures feature 32 20-watt 4-in-1 color mixing LEDs arranged into eight individually controllable sections. To optimize coverage, the installation incorporated eight 20-degree frost filters and eight 60-degree frost filters along with barndoors.
When the mosque was first constructed, strip lighting was installed to illuminate the domes, said 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 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. At least two other brands were considered during the shootout.
Designing the structures presented a unique challenge given the significance of the location. The eight light towers had to be fabricated to match the mosque exterior design. 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. The Encore LP32IP integrated wireless DMX capability provided a solution using the 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. Two ADJ D4 Branch RM DMX splitters distribute the signal from the control interface to the wireless transmitters.
The client has been extremely pleased with the result, Bryan said. The combination of fixture performance, wireless control and ease of operation has worked very well. In fact, we have not 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.
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