Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: Key destination during Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr 2025
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre has attracted large numbers of guests during Ramadan with a wide range of activities throughout the holy month. A total of 1,890,144 worshippers and visitors came to the mosque during Ramadan and the Eid Al Fitr holiday. Among them, 594,236 worshippers performed prayers at the mosque, including 193,435 for Isha and Taraweeh, and 195,987 for Tahajjud. On the 27th night of Ramadan, 72,533 worshippers gathered, while 26,025 performed Eid Al Fitr prayers.During the same period, the mosque received 391,011 visitors, and over the Eid holiday, it welcomed 122,819 guests, including 57,629 worshippers and 64,959 visitors, who experienced the mosque's unique spiritual and cultural atmosphere.Despite Ramadan 1446 being 29 days long, the number of guests increased by more than 10 percent compared to Ramadan 1445.The mosque welcomed approximately 11,240 visitors daily during Ramadan. A total of 289 guided tours were conducted and were 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 centre also doubled the number of operators in the call centre, which received 4,436 calls. In coordination with Abu Dhabi TV, daily live broadcasts of prayers were aired, reaching millions of viewers around the world.As part of the Our Fasting Guests initiative, the centre — sponsored by Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation and in strategic partnership with Erth Hotel — distributed Iftar and Suhoor meals throughout the holy month.A total of 2,625,568 Iftar and Suhoor meals were prepared by the hotel, of which 898,288 were distributed at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, 442,345 at Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Grand Mosque in Al Ain Region, 1,160,000 across Abu Dhabi's labour cities, and 105,935 in various other areas of the emirate.The centre distributed 19,000 Suhoor meals during the last ten nights of Ramadan to worshippers who observed the night prayers at the mosque — all as part of the same initiative, reflecting the values of generosity and giving deeply rooted in UAE society by the late Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.The centre offered visitors the opportunity to experience the spiritual and cultural ambiance of Ramadan at Dome of Peace and Souq Al Jami,' which featured a diverse selection of shops and restaurants, along with outdoor kiosks near the dome.The Ramadan Market included 22 kiosks located across the mosque's northern and southern courtyards.The centre implemented more than 11 initiatives that reflected its religious and cultural mission.Among them, four Ramadan lectures were hosted at the Mohamed bin Zayed Majlis at its dedicated venue within the mosque.The centre also organised 18 lectures delivered by esteemed scholars — guests of the UAE President — in collaboration with the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments and Zakat Fund.The centre also produced 13 episodes of the Jusoor (Bridges) programme, involving more than 1,200 participants representing 13 embassies, various institutions, and mosque staff — gathering together through acts of volunteering and shared Iftar under the umbrella of Islamic values.The mosque also hosted a blood donation campaign, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Blood Bank, and distributed audio Qur'ans featuring recitations by the mosque's Imams Idris Abkar and Yahya Aishan to worshippers, in commemoration of Zayed Humanitarian Day (19th of Ramadan), during an event organised by the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, hosted at the mosque.The centre dedicated all its resources to highlighting Ramadan activities. It produced more than 100 media items, and its news was shared by more than 700 local, regional, and international media outlets.The mosque was featured in more than 3,600 news articles, visual reports, and social media posts across various platforms and social media channels — amplifying its message of peace and cultural exchange globally.Organisational committees at the centre formed volunteer teams from across all departments, regardless of job title or role. Every employee contributed to providing worshippers with a peaceful and seamless prayer experience. They were supported by volunteers from the Emirates Red Crescent, Absher Ya Watan team, Ma'an Volunteer Group, police officers, paramedics, civil defense personnel, parking attendants, and Saeed traffic systems staff — bringing the total number of volunteers to more than 580.The centre recognised and valued the contributions of more than 20 governmental and private entities, whose annual collaboration was key to the success of Ramadan operations. Key partners included the Ministry of Defence, Abu Dhabi Police GHQ, UAE Presidential Guard, Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority, General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation, Erth Hotel Abu Dhabi, Integrated Transport Centre, Emirates Red Crescent (Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Fujairah), Absher Ya Watan Initiative, the We Are All Police initiative, Authority of Social Contribution - Ma'an, Abu Dhabi Media Network, Tadweer, Emirates Transport, Union Cleaning Company, Saaed for Traffic Systems, Abu Dhabi Blood Bank, Zayed Sports City, and Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC).As part of its efforts during Ramadan, the centre also extended services to worshippers at the Sheikh Khalifa Grand Mosque in Al Ain, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Fujairah, and the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Grand Mosque in Ras Al Khaimah.At the Sheikh Khalifa Grand Mosque in Al Ain, the total number of worshippers during Ramadan reached 290,331, including 99,746 for Isha and Taraweeh prayers, 76,491 for Tahajjud, and 32,030 for Eid Al Fitr prayers. The mosque also distributed 442,345 Iftar meals. Meanwhile, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Fujairah welcomed 122,347 worshippers, with 61,084 attending Isha and Taraweeh, 27,662 attending Tahajjud, and 30,268 performing Eid prayers.
At the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Grand Mosque in Ras Al Khaimah, a total of 39,783 worshippers gathered during the month, including 19,577 for Isha and Taraweeh, 10,399 for Tahajjud, and 3,430 for Eid Al Fitr prayers.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
3 days ago
- Al Etihad
To ease traffic flow in the emirate, Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) issues amendments to road tolls in Abu Dhabi
14 Aug 2025 19:13 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility), an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, has announced amendments to the provisions of the Road Toll Executive Regulations in Abu Dhabi (DARB).This comes as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance traffic flow and reduce congestion on main roads during peak hours. The new amendments will come into effect starting Monday, September 1, 2025, introducing changes to the tariff evening period will be revised to run from 3pm to 7pm, while the morning period will remain unchanged, from 7am to 9am, Monday through Saturday. Tariffs will continue to be free of charge on Sundays and official public new amendments also remove the current daily and monthly toll caps for private means there will no longer be a maximum limit on the toll charges collected per vehicle each day (Dh16) or each month (Dh200, Dh150, and Dh100) for the first, second, or third vehicle, or any additional vehicle after the updated rules, a fee of Dh4 will apply each time a vehicle passes through a toll gate in the emirate. The existing exemption policy will continue for eligible groups, including People of Determination, low-income families, senior citizens, and retirees. Q Mobility, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (ADQ), will assume management and operation of Abu Dhabi's DARB toll system, working in coordination with the relevant authorities to implement the updates.
Al Etihad
3 days ago
- Al Etihad
flydubai strengthens strategic growth with 12 new aircraft deliveries in 2025
14 Aug 2025 10:55 DUABI (ALETIHAD) flydubai has taken delivery of seven new aircraft so far in 2025, with a further five Boeing 737 MAX 8s scheduled to join its fleet before the end of the year. In a press release on Thursday, flydubai stated that these additions form an integral part of the airline's strategic growth plans, enabling the continued expansion of its network, enhancing operational efficiency and increasing capacity on existing seven new aircraft, received between April and August 2025, have seen the flydubai fleet grow to 93 aircraft. Once all 12 aircraft have been delivered this year, flydubai's fleet will stand at more than 95 aircraft, supporting the carrier's growing network of more than 135 destinations in 57 countries. This expansion continues to open up underserved markets, creating more travel opportunities and further strengthening Dubai's position as a leading global aviation Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: 'The arrival of these new aircraft is a testament to our long-term strategic vision and our confidence in the future of air travel. Our fleet investment supports our mission to offer greater choice, enhanced convenience and improved connectivity for our passengers. These deliveries are part of a backlog extensively delayed in recent years, and despite receiving 12 aircraft this year, we remain 20 aircraft behind our original projections.''The continued interest from our financing partners highlights the strength of our business model and our commitment to contributing to the UAE's leadership in global aviation. Looking ahead, these aircraft will enable us to unlock new destinations, optimise our operations and play an even greater role in supporting Dubai's growth as an international aviation hub,' added Al favourable response to the airline's financing Request for Proposals (RFPs) and its ability to secure competitive financing for these deliveries reflect the strong confidence that global financial institutions and lessors have in flydubai's robust business model and its future growth prospects. The positive appetite from the market underscores the airline's resilience and its role as a key driver in the UAE's aviation sector. Financing for the first seven aircraft received this year has been secured under Islamic financing from Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), conventional debt financing from The National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah (RAKBANK), as well as sale and leaseback transactions with JP Lease Products & Services Co., Ltd (JLPS) and JLPS Ireland parallel with its growing fleet, flydubai continues to expand its network and has added 11 new destinations this year, including seasonal summer destinations Antalya and Al Alamein, as well as Damascus and Peshawar. The carrier is also set to welcome four new destinations in Europe, including Chișinău and Iași from September and Vilnius and Riga from December, further strengthening its presence in the region and providing passengers with greater choice and its aircraft deliveries, flydubai has continued to invest in enhancing the customer experience and driving innovation. Since the beginning of 2024, 23 Next-Generation Boeing 737-800s have undergone a full cabin retrofit as part of the carrier's multimillion-dollar retrofit programme, which will continue into 2026. The new onboard cabin interior features flydubai's flagship lie-flat seats in Business Class as well as exceptional in-flight entertainment in Economy Class, ensuring a consistent and enhanced travel experience across the fleet. To support the ongoing strategic growth plans, flydubai's ongoing recruitment drive has grown its workforce to more than 6,500 employees across different functions, a 10% increase in the number of employees compared to 2024. The airline has also launched its new Ab Initio Pilot Training Programme (MPL) to shape students into future pilots, who will play a key role in supporting the airline's ambitious growth plans.
Gulf Today
3 days ago
- Gulf Today
Salik records Dhs1.53b revenue in H1 of this year, up 39.5% YoY
Staff Reporter, Gulf Today Salik Company, Dubai's exclusive toll gate operator, on Wednesday announced its financial results for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2025 ('Q2 2025' and 'H1 2025'). Total revenue for H1 2025 increased 39.5 per cent YoY to Dhs 1,527.3 million (Dhs1.53 billion), supported by a 45.6 per cent YoY increase in Q2 2025. EBITDA grew 44.2per cent in H1 2025 to Dhs 1,065.0 million with an EBITDA margin of 69.7 per cent. The solid results were driven by the two new gates introduced in November 2024 amidst an overall positive macro environment and the implementation of variable pricing which came into effect at the end of January 2025, with Q2 marking the first full quarter of the new variable pricing system. In Salik's core tolling business, total chargeable trips reached 318.4 million in H1 2025, with total chargeable trips of 160.4 million in Q2 2025, a 1.6 per cent increase versus 158.0 million in Q1 2025. This was despite Q1 being a seasonally stronger period for Salik compared to Q2, alongside the redistribution of traffic during the Ramadan period in Q1. In view of the strong first half results, the Board of Directors have recommended a cash dividend of Dhs 770.9 million, equivalent to 10.278 fils per share, representing 100per cent of H1 2025 profit. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Salik, said: 'Salik's strong performance in the first half of 2025 underscores the strength of its resilient business model and high operational efficiency. During this period, the Company achieved a 39.5 per cent year-on-year increase in total revenue, further solidifying its robust financial position. This performance reaffirms our continued commitment to delivering long-term value for shareholders while supporting Dubai's vision of becoming a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility. In view of the strong first half results and our dedication to our shareholders, the Board of Directors have recommended a cash dividend of Dhs 770.9 million, equivalent to 10.278 fils per share, representing 100per cent of H1 2025 profit. He added: We continue to benefit from the Emirate's economic momentum, bolstered by sustained growth in tourism, real estate, and infrastructure spending. Building on this, and with continued progress across both our core tolling operations and ongoing success in expanding our ancillary revenue streams, we are pleased to be upgrading our full year 2025 guidance, with revenue expected to increase 34-36per cent compared to 2024, up from 28-29per cent previously, and with EBITDA margins expectations in the range of 68.5-69.5per cent. Our new guidance underscores our confidence in Salik's outlook and future growth potential, particularly given our commitment to strengthening our non-core offering and exploring new opportunities within ancillary revenues.' Ibrahim Sultan Al Haddad, Chief Executive Officer of Salik, commented: 'We are pleased to report another solid quarter of performance, with a strong .40per cent YoY growth across all key financial metrics including revenue, EBITDA and net profit growth. Our results reflect the ongoing strength of our tolling business and the growing contribution of our non-tolling initiatives, including our digital partnerships in providing mobility payment solutions which continue to gain traction amongst users. Total trip volumes remained resilient in the period, increasing 39.6per cent compared to H1 2024, supported by the addition of the two new gates, the ongoing population growth and record levels of tourism inflow, which increased 7per cent between January and May compared to last year with hotel occupancy also increasing to 83per cent, up from 81per cent in the prior year. Against this backdrop and with the visibility we now have into the second half of the year, we are highly confident in Salik's future growth, as seen in our revised revenue guidance for 2025, and we remain well-positioned to generate sustained value as we continue to scale, diversify, and innovate across the mobility ecosystem.' The total number of trips, including discounted trips, made through Salik's toll gates grew 39.6 per cent YoY in H1 2025 to record 424.2 million trips, driven by a strong 44.3per cent growth in trips in Q2 2025 reaching 213.4 million, supported by the addition of the two new gates and Dubai's robust macroeconomic conditions, tourism inflow and continued attraction of new residents. Total chargeable trips reached 160.4 million in Q2 2025, a 1.6per cent improvement compared to 158.0 million in Q1 2025, driven by strong growth in the use of Salik toll roads during the peak period (Dhs 6), which yielded 57.7 million trips, up 46.7per cent vs. Q1 2025, mainly due to the introduction of the two new gates, with trips in the past midnight period (Dhs 0), totaling 16.4 million, up 46.8per cent compared to Q1. The Q2 2025 period represented the first full quarter since implementing the new variable pricing system. It is noteworthy that all revenue-generating trips conducted between January 1 and January 30, 2025 during Q1 2025 were categorized under off-peak trips; hence the decline of 19.7per cent in off-peak chargeable trips between Q2 2025 and Q1 2025. Toll usage fees: performance was strong during the first half, increasing 42.3per cent YoY to Dhs 1,356.9 million, with toll usage fees growing 49.4per cent YoY to Dhs 691.3 million in Q2 2025.
