Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Honours Tour Guides On International Day

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center (SZGMC) recently celebrated International Tourist Guide Day, observed annually on 21st February, to honor the pivotal role of tourist guides in the travel industry. This year's theme, "Tourist Guides; Our Guardians in Promoting and Encouraging Green Tourism," underscores the commitment of tourist guides to fostering sustainable tourism practices. The SZGMC took this opportunity to commend its team of cultural tour specialists for their dedication to promoting the values of tolerance and coexistence among diverse global cultures.

Amina Al Hammadi, Acting Director of the Worshippers and Visitors Services Department at SZGMC, praised the cultural tour specialists for maintaining the mosque's esteemed status on the global tourism map. She highlighted that in 2023, the mosque's guides conducted 5,538 tours, attended by 73,461 visitors. These tours serve as a platform to showcase the United Arab Emirates' rich cultural heritage and the visionary leadership of its founder, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Al Hammadi emphasized the center's focus on investing in national human resources and enhancing the skills of young Emiratis to uphold high international standards in cultural tours. The center is expanding its language offerings for tours, including Russian, Chinese, and Hebrew, and has also trained specialists to provide tours in sign language. This initiative ensures that the mosque's civilizational message reaches a broad audience.

The mosque's popularity is further evidenced by its ranking by TripAdvisor as the 7th top tourist attraction in the Middle East. This recognition reflects the mosque's ability to attract and mesmerize visitors from around the world with its stunning architecture and rich cultural heritage.

In addition to its tour programs, the SZGMC is dedicated to nurturing future generations of cultural tour specialists through initiatives like The Young Builders and the Ibn Al Dar program. The latter has successfully graduated 190 students, with 44 joining the center as cultural tour specialists. This five-week training program is designed to equip Emirati nationals with essential skills and knowledge about UAE's cultural heritage, preparing them for careers as cultural tour guides.

The efforts of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center in promoting green tourism and investing in the professional development of young Emiratis underscore its commitment to preserving cultural heritage while embracing sustainable practices. Through these initiatives, the center continues to enhance its reputation as a leading cultural and religious landmark on both regional and global stages.

With inputs from WAM