Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in Abu Dhabi welcomed 6,582,993 worshippers and visitors in the past year, marking a 20% increase from 2023, according to a statement from the centre.
This included 2,259,275 worshippers and those fasting, 4,262,781 tourists, as well as 60,937 visitors who used the mosque’s jogging track.
Among the worshippers, 281,941 attended Friday prayers, while 709,875 participated in daily prayers, the statement said.
Ramadan and Eid prayers attracted 617,458 worshippers, with the 27th night of Ramadan 1445H (April 5) breaking records with 87,186 attendees, including 70,680 worshippers, the highest in the mosque’s history.
As part of the “Our Fasting Guests” initiative, the centre distributed 2,150,000 iftar meals, with 650,001 served on-site and 1.5 million meals delivered to labour accommodations across Abu Dhabi.
In addition, 30,000 suhoor meals were provided during the last 10 nights of Ramadan.
In 2024, 81% of visitors to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre were international tourists, with 19% from the UAE.
Asia led with 52% of visitors, followed by Europe (33%), North America (8%), Africa (3%), South America (3%) and Australia (1%).
India had the highest number of visitors (841,980), followed by China (397,048), Russia (293,667), the US (204,018), Germany (149,277), the UK (127,691), France (124,691), Italy (113,204), Pakistan (104,166), and the Philippines (86,898).
The highest single-day attendance was on the second day of Eid Al Fitr (April 11), with 32,722 worshippers and visitors, the statement said.
The mosque’s cultural tours saw 5,607 guided sessions, attracting 75,752 visitors, while 1,510 official delegation bookings brought 23,951 attendees.
Among the 309 high-level delegations were eight heads of state, a vice president, three state governors, and 49 ambassadors and consuls.
The centre also introduced initiatives like the “Unseen Glimpses” tour and “Sura” evening tours from 10pm to 8am, offering exclusive insights into the mosque’s architecture and atmosphere.
Visitors can also enjoy a self-guided experience using the “El-Delleel” multimedia eGuide in 14 languages.
The “Souq Al Jami” offers over 50 retail and dining units, enhancing the visitor experience.
The “Light & Peace Museum” at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, features the immersive “Diya – A Universe of Light” experience.
The museum includes five sections: “Tolerance – A Guiding Light”, “Sanctity and Worship – The Three Grand Mosques”, “Precision and Beauty – The Spirit of Invention”, “Tolerance and Openness – Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque”, and “Universal Coexistence”, plus a family section.
It offers interactive exhibits and advanced multimedia technology, showcasing rare artifacts and fostering cultural dialogue.
A major attraction of the museum is the 360-degree “Diya – A Universe of Light” display with sensory effects, including wind simulations.
Since its November opening, the museum has welcomed 9,728 visitors.
In 2024, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre launched 115 episodes across various cultural and religious series, reinforcing its role in promoting Islamic knowledge.
This included the new “Kursi AlJami” series, which explores topics like supplication, the call to prayer, and Quranic interpretations, and the “Wamda Fiqhiyyah” series featuring UAE Council for Fatwa members, focusing on religious duties.
The centre also continued its existing series, including “The Beautiful Names of Allah” ,“Architecture and Arts”, and “Gheras Al-Qiyam”, as well as introduced the “Rare Books” and “Manuscripts” series showcasing valuable Islamic texts.
In 2024, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre released several key publications: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: A Lights of Peace, featuring award-winning photos from the “Spaces of Light” Photography Award, the Light & Peace Museum Catalogue, and the Al-Andalus: History and Civilization Exhibition Catalogue.
These publications celebrate Islamic heritage, architecture and culture.
In 2024, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre continued its efforts with the 1446H Hijri Calendar Project, ensuring accuracy based on scientific, religious, as well as astronomical principles.
It released a comprehensive wall-mounted “Roznamah” calendar and a new desk edition, along with an updated Hijri Calendar video series.
The centre also enhanced its interactive smart app for the 1446H Hijri Calendar, making it accessible across the UAE, and launched the “Interactive Roznamah” to track prayer times throughout the year.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque ranks among the world’s top 1% of tourist attractions and was named the Middle East’s top cultural and historical landmark by TripAdvisor, a leading online travel platform.
