Open to the public since 12 April 2021, it is named after Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who was the Ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the United Arab Emirates from November 2004 until his death in May 2022.

[3] Formerly, the biggest mosque in use in the city was that of Shaikhah Salamah,[11] mother of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the father of Sheikh Khalifa.

[12] Nearby, a 1000-year-old mosque dated to the Islamic Golden Age, besides other remains relevant to the region's history, was unearthed in September 2018.

It has 4 minarets measuring about 60 m (200 ft) high,[1] which are inspired by the Great Mosque of Samarra.

Additionally, there is an arcade which connects the various parts of the mosque and rims the yard with an area of 7,660 m2 (82,500 sq ft).