Rihanna was asked to leave a mosque in Abu Dhabi after shooting a seductive series of snaps outside the religious building.

The Umbrella singer posted a number of photos via her Instagram.com page on Saturday  which featured her posing in front of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque wearing a figure-hugging black jumpsuit and a head scarf.

Although her modesty was covered, the star angered officials at the building by refusing to ask permission to use the location for the shoot, whichfeatured her lying next to a water feature and with her hands on her hips as worshippers passed by.

Now it has emerged the star was asked to leave the mosque after breaking its strict rules.

A statement from officials to Middle Eastern newspaper The National Post reads, "In the event ofbehaviour that violates the moral codes of access to the mosque, or other visit regulations - such as taking inappropriate pictures, posing in ways that are improper in the context of sacred place, talking loudly, or eating - the violators are directed in a polite manner that reflects the civilisational (sic) and tolerant attributes of Islam.

"Here, the Centre refers to a recent incident, involving a singer who came for a private visit to the mosque, at a gate that is not reserved for visitors, without prior coordination with the Centre's management and without identifying herself.

"She left without entering the mosque, after being asked to do so, due to the fact that she had taken some pictures that do not conform with the conditions and regulations put in place by the Centre's management to regulate visits in a way that takes the status and sanctity of the mosque into consideration."