ABU DHABI, 31 January 2026 (GDM) — Few visitors to the UAE leave without being captivated by the breathtaking elegance of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a shimmering masterpiece that draws millions year after year. In 2025, this iconic landmark achieved an unprecedented milestone: the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre welcomed a record-breaking 6,846,723 guests, reflecting a solid 4% increase over 2024 and marking the highest annual visitor figure in its history, according to the United Arab Emirates’ official news agency, WAM.
Worshippers numbered 1,531,192, including 257,859 who attended Friday (Jumu‘ah) prayers, 697,961 for daily prayers, and 575,372 during Ramadan and the two Eids.
The mosque hosted 898,767 iftar guests, while general visitors totalled 4,331,046. An additional 85,718 explored the Mosque Promenade.
International guests accounted for 82% of the total, with UAE residents making up the remaining 18%. Asia led by continent at 49%, followed by Europe (33%), North America (11%), Africa and South America (3% each), and Australia (1%).
By nationality, India topped the list at 20%, followed by China (9%), Russia and the United States (8% each), Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy (3% each), and the Philippines and Pakistan (2% each).
Cultural tours attracted 55,730 participants across 4,031 sessions led by specialist guides. The mosque also received 21,988 guests as part of official delegations, with 1,564 bookings.
A total of 335 high-level delegations visited, including 9 heads of state, 2 vice presidents, 4 state governors and 1 deputy governor, 8 sheikhs and princes, 12 prime ministers and 2 deputy prime ministers, 6 parliamentary speakers and 1 deputy speaker, 78 ministers, 25 deputy ministers, 51 ambassadors and consuls, 3 deputy ambassadors/consuls, one religious delegation, 70 military-sector visits, and 62 official delegations from various entities.
During Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr, the mosque welcomed 1,890,144 guests (worshippers and visitors combined). Prayers drew 594,236 attendees: 193,435 for Isha and Taraweeh, 195,987 for Tahajjud, 72,533 on the 27th night of Ramadan, and 26,025 for Eid Al Fitr prayer. Visitors numbered 391,011, while Eid Al Fitr holiday guests reached 122,819 (57,629 worshippers and 64,959 visitors)—a 10% rise compared to 1445H.
Under the ‘Our Fasting Guests’ initiative, sponsored by the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation and delivered in partnership with Erth Hotel, the Centre distributed 2,625,568 iftar and suhoor meals. This included 898,767 at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – Abu Dhabi, 442,345 at Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Grand Mosque in Al Ain, 1,160,000 in labour accommodations across Abu Dhabi, 105,935 in various emirate locations, and 19,000 suhoor meals at the mosque during the last ten nights of Ramadan.
Throughout 2025, the Centre enhanced visitor experiences through expanded cultural tours, the introduction of the Souq Al Jami’ marketplace, and strengthened global outreach via initiatives such as ‘Minarets of the Two Capitals’ in Moscow under the Jusoor Programme, and participation in the St. Petersburg International Forum of Religions.
The Light & Peace Museum attracted 47,266 visitors, while the Diya – A Universe of Light immersive experience welcomed 45,699. The Al Jami’ Library received 5,930 visitors. Cultural activations included the Australian exhibition ‘Boundless Plains’, ‘Memory of Place’ in collaboration with the National Archives and Library, and ‘Artistic Features… Inspirations from Light & Peace’. The Centre also conducted 16 cultural workshops for 14 schools and 331 students, employing innovative methods to showcase Islamic cultural heritage.
In content development, the Centre produced 330 episodes across 12 knowledge series, including Kursi Al Jami’, Wamda Fiqhiyyah, The Most Beautiful Names of Allah, Minbar Al Jami’, Architecture and Arts, Gheras Al Qiyam, and Rare Books and Manuscripts. It launched an audio edition of “Houses of Allah: From the Great Mosque of Kairouan to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque”, with translations in Spanish, French, and Mandarin; published “Light & Peace” to support the museum; and released the children’s story “Dīrat Al Durūr wa Al Tawāli‘”, preserving ancestral wisdom.
The Centre continued its key contributions to the Hijri calendar project, enriching the 1447H edition with scholarly, Sharia, and astronomical insights.
Affiliated mosques also saw strong growth: Sheikh Khalifa Grand Mosque in Al Ain welcomed 1,032,320 guests (a 95% increase), Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Fujairah received 660,110 (up 10%), and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Ras Al Khaimah recorded 147,348 worshippers (up 35%).
These impressive figures underscore the stature of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – Abu Dhabi as one of the world’s premier religious, cultural, and tourism landmarks. It plays a vital role in advancing Abu Dhabi’s cultural and tourism agenda, welcoming millions annually and reinforcing the capital’s position as a global hub for civilisational dialogue and tolerance.
The Centre earned high acclaim on Tripadvisor, ranking 8th among the world’s top 25 destinations (up two places from the previous year) and retaining 1st place among the Middle East’s top ten landmarks.
The Timeless Beauty and Rich History of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Conceived in the late 1980s by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s founding father, as a symbol of Islam’s moderation, peace, tolerance, and cultural unity, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque stands as a masterpiece of contemporary Islamic architecture. Construction began on November 5, 1996, involving artisans and materials from over a dozen countries—including Italy, Germany, Morocco, India, Turkey, China, the UK, New Zealand, Greece, and the UAE—and spanned 11 years until its inauguration on Eid Al Adha in 2007.
Blending influences from Mughal, Moorish, Ottoman, Persian, Fatimid, Mamluk, and traditional Arab styles, the mosque unites diverse elements of Islamic civilisation in harmonious elegance. Its striking features include 82 domes of varying sizes (the largest rising to 85 metres), four soaring minarets reaching 107 metres, over 1,000 columns, and exquisite white marble cladding (sourced from Macedonia) adorned with intricate floral mosaics, gold-leaf calligraphy, and mother-of-pearl inlays. The interior boasts the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet, seven magnificent 24-carat gold-plated chandeliers (including one weighing 11 tonnes with Swarovski crystals), and serene reflecting pools that mirror the ethereal architecture.
This global collaboration and artistic fusion make the mosque not only a place of worship but a breathtaking monument to unity, heritage, and enduring beauty, drawing millions to experience its transcendent serenity and profound message of peace.