Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque welcomed nearly 2mn visitors during Ramadan, says new report
According to official figures, 562,632 people performed prayers at the mosque, with 193,435 attending Isha and Taraweeh prayers and 195,987 for Tahajjud, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) said in a statement.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque welcomes millions
The 27 th night of Ramadan saw 72,533 worshippers gathered at the mosque, while 26,025 performed Eid Al-Fitr prayers.
The mosque received 391,011 visitors during Ramadan, and an additional 122,819 guests during the Eid holiday period.
Despite Ramadan 1446 lasting only 29 days, attendance increased by over 10 percent compared to the previous year.
'The mosque welcomed approximately 11,240 visitors daily during Ramadan. A total of 289 guided tours were conducted, attended by 4,270 visitors. Tourist companies made 6,774 bookings, covering 128,361 visitors, while 75 official delegation bookings included 1,126 visitors,' the statement added.
In coordination with Abu Dhabi TV, daily live prayers were broadcast, reaching millions of viewers worldwide.
Charitable efforts during Ramadan
The Centre's charitable efforts were substantial, with more than 2.6 million Iftar meals distributed throughout the holy month.
The Our Fasting Guests initiative, sponsored by Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation in partnership with Erth Hotel, prepared 2,625,568 Iftar meals.
These were distributed across multiple locations: 898,288 at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, 442,345 at Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Grand Mosque in Al Ain, 1,160,000 across Abu Dhabi's labour cities, and 105,935 in various other areas of the emirate.
Additionally, 19,000 Suhoor meals were distributed during the last ten nights of Ramadan to worshippers observing night prayers at the mosque.
Ramadan market and events
Visitors experienced the Ramadan atmosphere at the Dome of Peace and Souq Al Jami', which featured shops, restaurants, and outdoor kiosks.
The Ramadan Market included 22 kiosks located across the mosque's northern and southern courtyards.
The Centre implemented over 11 initiatives reflecting its religious and cultural mission, including hosting four Ramadan lectures at the Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis.
In collaboration with the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments and Zakat Fund, the Centre organised 18 lectures delivered by scholars who were guests of the UAE President.
The Jusoor (Bridges) programme produced 13 episodes involving more than 1,200 participants from 13 embassies, various institutions, and mosque staff, gathering through volunteering and shared Iftar.
The Centre's media presence was significant, producing over 100 media pieces that were shared by more than 700 local, regional, and international media outlets. The mosque was featured in over 3,600 news articles, visual reports, and social media posts.
More than 580 volunteers supported the mosque's operations, including staff from Emirates Red Crescent, Absher Ya Watan team, Ma'an Volunteer Group, police officers, paramedics, civil defence personnel, parking attendants, and Saeed traffic systems staff.
The Centre also provided services at Sheikh Khalifa Grand Mosque in Al Ain (290,331 worshippers), Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Fujairah (122,347 worshippers), and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Grand Mosque in Ras Al Khaimah (39,783 worshippers).
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