The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in Abu Dhabi has reported a notable increase in visitors and worshippers during the first half of 2024, as per the Emirates News Agency (WAM). The mosque welcomed a total of 4,379,258 individuals, reflecting a 31 percent rise from the same period last year.
Of the total visitors, 1,765,698 were worshippers and fasting individuals, while 2,584,425 were tourists. Additionally, the mosque’s jogging track saw 29,135 users.
The Centre provided detailed statistics, revealing that 81 percent of visitors were international tourists, while 19 percent were UAE residents. The data underscores the mosque’s significance during various religious observances, with Friday prayers attracting 149,666 worshippers and daily prayers drawing 348,573 individuals. During Ramadan and the two Eid celebrations, the mosque hosted 617,458 worshippers.
April 5 marked a historic day for the mosque, coinciding with the 27th night of Ramadan, attracting a record 87,186 worshippers. Of these, 70,680 participated in the special prayers for the 27th night of Ramadan.
The Centre’s ‘Our Fasting Guests’ initiative provided 2,150,000 iftar meals, with 650,001 served at the mosque and 1.5 million distributed to labor cities in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, 30,000 suhoor meals were offered during the last ten days of Ramadan.
Visitor demographics showed that 52 percent of visitors were from Asia, followed by 34 percent from Europe, 7 percent from North America, 3 percent each from Africa and South America, and 1 percent from Australia. The leading individual countries were India (22 percent), China (11 percent), and Russia (8 percent). Germany and the United States each contributed 4 percent, while France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Pakistan each accounted for 3 percent. The Philippines represented 2 percent of the visitors.
The second day of Eid Al-Fitr saw the highest daily visitor count, with 32,722 people visiting the mosque.
To enhance the visitor experience, the Centre’s cultural tour specialists conducted 2,958 tours for 41,957 visitors, providing insights into the mosque’s architecture, role in promoting tolerance, and various services.
The mosque also hosted numerous official delegations in the first half of the year, with 823 bookings for official groups, totaling 13,655 participants. Among these were 170 high-level delegations, including visits from three heads of state, one vice president, four prime ministers, two parliamentary speakers, and 35 ministers.
Several new initiatives have boosted visitor numbers, including the ‘Unseen Glimpse of the Mosque’ tours, which offer exclusive cultural tours in club cars, and the ‘Sura’ night cultural tours, available outside official working hours for transit visitors.
The Centre has also introduced the ‘El-Delleel’ service, a multimedia device offering virtual cultural tours in 14 languages, enabling 24-hour mosque visits and wider accessibility.
Expanding beyond spiritual and cultural experiences, the mosque’s Souq Al-Jami’ features over 50 commercial units, including restaurants, shops, kiosks, and entertainment areas for families. For younger visitors, there are dedicated activities at Fun Block and the Kingdom Martial Arts Academy.
The mosque’s efforts have earned it high rankings in TripAdvisor’s global tourism community. It was ranked first in the Middle East in the ‘Top Attractions’ category, second in the ‘Top Experiences’ category for the ‘Dubai to Abu Dhabi Tour’, and third globally in the ‘Cultural and Historical Experiences’ category.
