Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre Sees Visitor Growth With Over 4.3 Million Guests In H1 2025

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in Abu Dhabi experienced a notable rise in visitors during the first half of 2025. A total of 4,346,831 guests visited, reflecting a 5% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This growth underscores the mosque's status as a prominent religious and cultural site globally.

During this period, the mosque welcomed 1,948,482 worshippers and fasting guests. Additionally, 2,355,165 visitors from various nationalities and 43,184 users of the Mosque’s Jogging Track were recorded. The mosque hosted significant numbers during key religious events, including Friday prayers with 127,672 worshippers and daily prayers with 346,671 attendees.

Statistics reveal that 82% of visitors came from outside the UAE, while UAE nationals and residents made up 18%. This highlights the mosque's growing appeal as a global cultural tourism landmark. Regionally, Asia contributed to 49% of visitors, followed by Europe at 35%, North America at 10%, Africa at 3%, South America at 2%, and Australia at 1%.

The "Our Fasting Guests" initiative saw collaboration with Erth Zayed Philanthropies and Erth Hotel to distribute Iftar and Suhoor meals. Approximately 2.6 million meals were prepared; among them, 898,767 were distributed at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

The Eid Al-Adha holiday attracted 96,497 guests to the mosque. This included 41,385 worshippers—12,740 performed Eid prayers—54,751 visitors, and 361 Jogging Track users. The parking facilities accommodated nearly one million vehicles during this time.

Cultural Tour Specialists conducted over 2,363 tours to introduce visitors to the mosque’s message of peace and tolerance. Official delegation bookings reached 826, including visits from high-level dignitaries such as Heads of State and Prime Ministers.

Enhancements for Visitor Experience

The Centre enhanced visitor experiences by offering over 70 electric vehicles for transportation within the premises. These vehicles prioritised elderly individuals and People of Determination. Additionally, more than 3,515 comfortable seats were provided along with wheelchairs to facilitate movement within the mosque.

Innovative experiences like public cultural tours and "Unseen Glimpses" tours via electric vehicles enriched visitor engagement. The Centre also offered "El-Delleel", a multimedia guide device providing virtual cultural tours in multiple languages including sign language for an inclusive experience.

The top visiting countries included India (20%), China (9%), Russia (8%), USA (7%), Germany (4%), followed by France, UK, Italy, Philippines, and Poland each contributing to visitor numbers significantly. These statistics reflect the diverse international interest in the mosque.

The highest number of worshippers was recorded on the night of March 25th during Ramadan with a total of 72,710 attendees for Taraweeh and Tahajjud prayers combined. This night was marked by spiritual reflection in a serene atmosphere.

With inputs from WAM