Record-Breaking Visitor Numbers At Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre In First Half Of 2024

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in Abu Dhabi welcomed 4,379,258 worshippers and visitors in the first half of this year. This represents a 31 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The total included 1,765,698 worshippers and fasting individuals and 2,584,425 visitors. Additionally, 29,135 people used the jogging track.

Asia led the visitor demographics with 52 percent of visitors, followed by Europe at 34 percent. North America accounted for 7 percent, Africa and South America each had 3 percent, and Australia had 1 percent. India was the top country of origin for visitors at 22 percent, followed by China at 11 percent and Russia at 8 percent. Germany and the USA each contributed 4 percent of visitors.

The mosque's cultural tour specialists conducted 2,958 tours attended by 41,957 visitors from around the globe. There were also 823 bookings for official delegations involving 13,655 participants. High-level delegations included visits from three heads of state, one vice president, four prime ministers, two parliamentary speakers, and thirty-five ministers.

The Centre introduced several experiences that boosted visitor numbers. The "Unseen Glimpse of the Mosque" tours offer cultural tours in club cars showcasing exclusive details of the mosque. Night cultural tours (Sura) are available outside official working hours for visitors on transit flights or those visiting Abu Dhabi.

Visitors can also use the "El-Delleel" service—a multimedia device offering virtual cultural tours in fourteen global languages—enabling them to visit the mosque any time. Additionally, "Souq Al-Jami’" provides a diverse experience with over fifty commercial units including restaurants, shops, kiosks, and entertainment areas catering to all ages.

Recognition and Rankings

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has been recognised as one of the top cultural and historical landmarks globally due to its various initiatives and projects. According to TripAdvisor's report, it ranked first in the Middle East in the "Top Attractions" category. In the "Top Experiences" category for the "Dubai to Abu Dhabi Tour," it secured second place in the Middle East.

In terms of "Cultural and Historical Experiences," it was ranked third globally. These rankings reflect its standing as a significant cultural destination.

Worshipper Statistics

The number of worshippers attending Friday prayers reached 149,666 while daily prayers saw participation from 348,573 individuals. During Ramadan and Eid prayers, there were 617,458 worshippers. On April 5th (27th Ramadan), a record number of worshippers attended—87,186—including those observing Laylat al-Qadr.

Iftar Meals Distribution

As part of its "Our Fasting Guests" project during Ramadan, the Centre prepared over two million iftar meals. Of these meals, 650,001 were served within the mosque while another one-and-a-half million were distributed to labour cities in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, during Ramadan's last ten days, thirty thousand suhoor meals were distributed.

Visitor Engagement

The mosque strengthened its position on the global cultural tourism map with eighty-one percent of visitors coming from outside UAE while nineteen percent were residents. The second day of Eid Al-Fitr saw the highest number of visitors at thirty-two thousand seven hundred twenty-two.

All participants in cultural tours learned about tolerance and cultural communication promoted by the mosque along with its unique Islamic architecture and world-class services offered.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque continues to be a prominent landmark due to its extensive efforts in promoting cultural understanding and providing exceptional visitor experiences.

With inputs from WAM