Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, Selena Gomez and friends visit Abu Dhabi mosque

But on Monday, rising supermodels Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid covered up their model figures by donning traditional abayas and hijabs while visiting the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

The two 19-year-old beauties were also joined by Selena Gomez, Shay Mitchell, Victoria's Secret model Devon Windsor and Gigi's singer boyfriend Cody Simpson for their first tourist stop during their New Year's Eve holiday week.

The mosque, which is the largest in the United Arab Emirates, can accommodate as many as 40,000 people. The tradition is Sunni Islam and the mosque is the key place of worship on Friday gathers and Eid prayers.

Celebrity visitors such as Rihanna - who took glamor photos in front of the mosque in 2013 - have been criticized in the past for violating the rules on the 'status and sanctity of the mosque.'

Jenner, Hadid, Gomez and their friends were dressed in customary UAE clothes including long black robes and scarves to cover most of their faces.

Kendall and Gigi took a playful photo with their friends inside the beautiful mosque which is adorned with gold-accented white columns.

Cody, 17, appeared to be the only male in the party and was dressed extremely casually in a faded pair of denim jeans, grey T-shirt, black leather motorcycle jacket and matching hat.

The young stars took to their Instagram accounts to share their postcard-like snapshots from the outing.

Gigi posted a stunning selfie of her and best friend Kendall wearing scarves over their heads with Kendall covering her face with a sheer crystal embroidered wrap.

'Incredible place,' the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star captioned a photo of the exterior facade of the mosque.

She also posted a photo from her breakfast date with Gigi and her boyfriend in which she humorously wrote: 'I'm third wheeling HARD.'

Selena also chronicled her tourist visit on her Instagram page posting a group selfie that featured Kendall and Gigi in the upper left corner.

Australian crooner and Gigi's longtime love Cody tweeted on December 26 that he and his 'mates' were going to be venturing on an unbelievable in holiday.

'Dubai bound with some mates. New Years will be mental. Then a little Maldives surf action,' he wrote.

The on-again couple and Kendall were seen departing for their flight at Los International Airport that same day.

Kendall, Gigi and Selena usually wear much less clothing than they did in Abu Dhabi. Often they slip into dresses with plunging necklines and high slits. The abayas and hijabs are a big departure for them.

(dailymail.co.uk)