Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque welcomes 1.9 million Ramadan guests
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre saw 1,890,144 worshippers and visitors came to the mosque during Ramadan and the Eid Al-Fitr holiday.
Among them,562,632 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.
The mosque received 391,011 visitors, and over the Eid holiday, welcomed 122,819 guests including 57,629 worshippers and 64,959 visitors, who experienced the mosque's unique spiritual and cultural atmosphere.
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 Centre also doubled the number of operators in the call centre, which received 4,436 calls. In coordination with Abu Dhabi TV, daily live prayers were aired, reaching millions of viewers worldwide.
More than 2.6 million Iftar meals were distributed throughout the holy month, reflecting the values of generosity and giving.
As part of its efforts during the holy month, the Centre also extended services to worshippers at Sheikh Khalifa Grand Mosque in Al Ain, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Fujairah, and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Grand Mosque in Ras Al Khaimah.
At Sheikh Khalifa Grand Mosque in Al Ain, the total number of worshippers during the holy month 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 throughout Ramadan.
Meanwhile, 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 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
What's On
2 hours ago
- What's On
Eid Al Adha 2025: Prayer times announced for all Emirates
Eid Al Adha Mubarak in advance… Ready for that well-earned break? UAE residents are in for a four-day weekend as the country gears up to celebrate Eid Al Adha 2025 and it's going to be both spiritually meaningful and filled with family festivities. When is Eid Al Adha in 2025? This year, Eid Al Adha falls on Friday, June 6, right after Arafah Day on Thursday, June 5. The UAE has announced a four-day public holiday from Thursday, June 5 to Sunday, June 8, giving both public and private sector workers an extended weekend to relax, reflect, and celebrate. A double blessing In 2025, the festivsl coincides with Friday prayers (Jumuah), making the day extra significant. However, the UAE Fatwa Council has confirmed that Eid and Jumuah prayers will be held separately, each with its own sermon. When to wake up? Khaleej Times reviewed the Hijri calendar issued by the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre and since Eid prayers usually take place around 20 minutes after sunrise, here's the likely timings: Fujairah: 5.41am Ras Al Khaimah: 5.41am Umm Al Quwain: 5.43am Ajman: 5.44am Sharjah: 5.44am Dubai: 5.45am Abu Dhabi: 5.50am Note: Official prayer times may still be updated. What happens on Eid Morning? On Eid morning, Muslims across the UAE wake early, dress their best, and head to mosques or open-air musallahs for prayer. From dawn, the air fills with the sound of takbir; chants glorifying God, until the Eid prayer begins shortly after sunrise. A brief sermon follows, and then the celebrations begin with family visits, shared meals, and festive cheer. > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
The National
21 hours ago
- The National
What is the difference between Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha?
Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha are the two principal festivals in Islam, each with distinct religious significance, customs and places on the calendar. While both are occasions for prayer, charity and celebration with family and friends, they commemorate different events and are observed at separate times in the Islamic lunar calendar. Here we look at the difference between the two and special preparations for each. Eid Al Fitr The first of the two eids on the Islamic calendar, Eid Al Fitr occurs on the first day of Shawwal and is to celebrate the conclusion of Ramadan. The name translates to "festival of breaking fast", and it is a chance for those who observed the holy month to celebrate their devotion and discipline with fasting and praying. The key aspects of Eid Al Fitr are Eid prayers, zakat al fitr, festive meals, gatherings and new clothes. Eid Al Fitr begins with Eid prayers, which begin shortly after sunrise. These prayers are held in a large open space, begin with a sermon and are often attended by the rulers and leaders of each country. Leading up to the prayer, Muslims are required to a charitable offering called zakat al fitr. It's a uniform amount, typically measured in food or its equivalent, given to the poor to enable them to celebrate Eid Al Fitr. After prayers are concluded, worshippers put on new clothes to signify a new beginning in purity and gratitude. They then gather in majlises and visit each other for Eid greetings. Children are given amounts of cash called eidiyah to spread joy among the young. While the feasts done in Eid Al Adha are bigger and more symbolic, Muslims still celebrate Eid Al Fitr with food, especially for the first breakfast after a month of fasting all day. There are three days of Eid observed, with most of the celebrations taking part on the first day. Eid Al Adha The second Eid on the Islamic calendar is Eid Al Adha and it takes place on the 10th day of Dhu Al Hijjah. The name translates to the Festival of the Sacrifice as it commemorates the Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God's command. Eid Al Adha coincides with the end of the Hajj season, when worshippers travel to Mecca to observe the Islamic pilgrimage. Hajj is one of the greatest deeds in Islam, as it teaches patience, good ethics and its rituals bring a person closer to his/her creator. The Hajj starts on the 8th day of Dhu Al Hijjah. The 9th day is called Arafah day during which pilgrims spend the day at Mount Arafah in Mecca. Muslims around the world fast during Arafah day. For pilgrims, there are still steps to completing their Hajj, but for Muslims not on their pilgrimage, the rituals of Eid can begin. Much like Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha also begins with Eid prayers at sunrise. There is no zakat al fitr for Eid Al Adha, but worshippers are still encouraged to donate. This is done with the distribution of meat from the slaughtering of sheep. As the name indicates, families slaughter the symbolic sacrifical sheep, which is then used to cook the feast of Eid, and also distributed to the needy. Each country in the Muslim world has its special steps when it comes to Eid Al Adha sacrifices, with some streamlining the process with the use of technology. Family gatherings are also a big part of Eid Al Adha, as relatives from far and wide visit one another to greet each other on the occasion. Together with Arafah day, Eid Al Adha last for three days with most of the festivities taking place on the first day.
Middle East Eye
3 days ago
- Middle East Eye
Eid al-Adha 2025: When is it and everything else you need to know
The Islamic celebration of Eid al-Adha is just around the corner and for the world's 1.8 billion Muslims, preparations are already underway for the annual festivity. Often referred to as "the big Eid," Eid al-Adha is considered the more significant religious event in comparison to Eid al-Fitr, which occurs approximately two months earlier and follows the holy month of Ramadan. Eid al-Adha notably marks the end of Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, which is one of the five pillars of Islam and obligatory for those who are financially and physically able to complete it at least once in their lifetime. Here, Middle East Eye answers some key questions about the celebration. What is Eid al-Adha and when will it fall this year? Eid al-Adha, which translates to "festival of sacrifice", is a four-day celebration that falls on the tenth day of the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar, known as Dhu al-Hijjah. This year, Eid al-Adha will likely begin on 6 June. Because Islam uses the lunar calendar, the date for Eid changes every year depending on the sighting of the new moon, which signals the start of the month. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Some countries may celebrate Eid on different days depending on the sighting of the new moon in their country. Why is Eid al-Adha celebrated? The festival is symbolic of an important story within Islamic tradition. It celebrates the willingness of the Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim in Arabic) to sacrifice his son Ismael in obedience to a command of God. Muslims believe that Abraham was spared the heartbreaking sacrifice when God provided him with a lamb to slaughter instead. The sacrifice is a reminder of the prophet's willingness to give up something precious to him for the sake of God, and reminds Muslims to place their relationship with God before worldly concerns. The story is similar to Christian and Jewish accounts, in which God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, but then spared him from doing so. The event demonstrated the prophet's devotion to God and willingness to abide by God's commands. How do people mark Eid al-Adha? In a symbolic echo of the prophetic story, Muslims will typically sacrifice a sheep and distribute the meat. Many butchers will be busy cutting the meat and dividing it for people to take home or distribute. In some countries, a goat or camel is sacrificed instead. The sacrificed animal is cut into thirds, with one portion given to impoverished people, another shared amongst friends and relatives and the final to be eaten by the family. This Islamic tradition of sacrifice is referred to as Qurbani or Udhiya. Street vendors sell colourful balloons in celebration of Eid in Karachi, Pakistan (AFP/Asif Hassan) In many countries, the practice is carried out in slaughterhouses or at butchers. In some parts of the Middle East, this will be done in large open areas or even in the streets. On the morning of Eid, Muslims will typically decorate their homes, wear their best clothes and head to a mosque for Eid prayers. After prayer, most families will host gatherings with an array of traditional foods, and invite friends and relatives over. Friends will often go out together, as the occasion serves as an opportunity for people to gather and spend quality time together. Another key focus of Eid is to give charity to the less fortunate, and focus on spirituality. Is Eid al-Adha a public holiday? Eid is a public holiday in many Middle Eastern countries including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as well as Muslim-majority states beyond the region such as Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia and Afghanistan. Despite efforts, Eid is not a public holiday in the UK and the US. However, in some areas with significant Muslim populations, businesses may choose to close or open later in the day. What food is eaten on Eid al-Adha? Most food at Eid is based on the meat that is sacrificed, which forms the basis of stews, roasts and barbecues. Fattah is a quintessential dish typically eaten on Eid al-Adha - it consists of a bed of white rice, topped with pieces of lamb and toasted pitta chips, and drenched with a tangy garlic and tomato sauce. The dish, which is best known in Egypt, has other variations across the Middle East. In some countries around the region, it is made with chicken, and a yoghurt and tahini sauce is used instead. In Oman, lamb shuwa is popular for its size, flavour and the convivial gatherings that centre around it. The slow-cooked lamb is marinated for hours then placed on top of a large platter of flavourful rice, from where it is picked at by diners. No Eid is complete without sweet treats, which are enjoyed by adults and children alike: staples include fragrant orange and coconut semolina; and qatayef, pancake-like pillows of batter stuffed with sweet cheese and nuts. Others include asabe Zainab (Zinab's fingers), a deep-fried pastry from Oman that is soaked in syrup, and kunafa, one of the hallmark desserts of the Middle East.
