Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: Record-breaking numbers in 2024
20 Mar 2025 13:49
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in Abu Dhabi welcomed 6,582,993 worshippers and visitors in the past year, marking a 20 percent increase compared to 2023. This included 2,259,275 worshippers and those fasting and 4,262,781 tourists, while 60,937 visitors utilised the mosque's jogging track.Among the total worshippers, 281,941 attended Friday prayers, while 709,875 participated in daily prayers. Ramadan and Eid prayers attracted 617,458 worshippers, with the 27th night of Ramadan 1445H (April 5) witnessing a record-breaking 87,186 attendees, including 70,680 worshippers, the highest number in the mosque's history.As part of the Our Fasting Guests initiative, the centre prepared 2,150,000 iftar meals, with 650,001 meals distributed within the mosque's premises and 1.5 million meals delivered to labour accommodations across Abu Dhabi. Additionally, 30,000 Suhoor meals were provided during the last ten nights of Ramadan.Reaffirming its status as a leading cultural tourism destination, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre recorded that 81 percent of its visitors in 2024 were international tourists, while 19 percent were residents of the UAE.Among global visitors, Asia led with 52 percent, followed by Europe (33 percent), North America (8 percent), Africa (3 percent), South America (3 percent), and Australia (1 percent).In terms of visitor nationalities, India topped the list with 841,980 visitors, followed by China (397,048), Russia (293,667), the US (204,018), Germany (149,277), the UK (127,691), France (124,691), Italy (113,204), Pakistan (104,166), and the Philippines (86,898).The highest single-day attendance was recorded on the second day of Eid al-Fitr (April 11), with 32,722 worshippers and visitors.The centre's cultural tour specialists conducted 5,607 guided tours, attracting 75,752 visitors from around the world.Additionally, 1,510 official delegation bookings were recorded, with 23,951 attendees taking part in guided experiences that highlighted the mosque's cultural, religious, and architectural significance.The mosque also welcomed 309 high-level delegations, including visits from eight heads of state, a vice president, three state governors, four sheikhs and princes, nine prime ministers, seven deputy prime ministers, 11 parliament speakers, 63 ministers, 18 deputy ministers, 49 ambassadors and consuls, and 10 deputy ambassadors and consuls.Furthermore, five interfaith delegations, 62 military delegations, and 54 official delegations from various institutions visited the mosque. All attendees participated in cultural tours that provided insights into the mosque's message of tolerance and civilisational dialogue, while also showcasing its unique Islamic architecture, visitor experiences, and world-class services.The centre further introduced a range of experiences that contributed to the increase in worshipper and visitor numbers, offering unique and immersive cultural journeys tailored to enhance the mosque's visitor experience.Among these initiatives is the Unseen Glimpses tour, which takes visitors on exclusive guided explorations aboard club cars, unveiling hidden details of the mosque's architecture and history that are not typically accessible in standard tours.The centre also launched the Sura evening cultural tours, available from 10 pm to 8 am, allowing guests—especially transit passengers—to experience the mosque's serene atmosphere during the quieter nighttime hours. Participants gain rare insights into the mosque's exceptional maintenance and cleaning processes, while also enjoying a tranquil and reflective ambiance that defines the mosque at night.Visitors can also benefit from El-Delleel, a multimedia eGuide available in 14 languages, providing virtual cultural tours for an enhanced self-guided experience.Souq Al Jami offers a diverse shopping and dining experience, featuring more than 50 retail units, including restaurants, boutiques, kiosks, and entertainment spaces designed to cater to visitors of all ages.
More details on the services available at Souq Al Jami' can be accessed through www.souqaljami.ae. In the past year, His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, inaugurated the Light & Peace Museum at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, unveiling the Diya – A Universe of Light immersive experience within the Peace Dome.The museum features five sections: Tolerance – A Guiding Light, Sanctity and Worship – The Three Grand Mosques, Precision and Beauty – The Spirit of Invention, Tolerance and Openness – Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and Universal Coexistence; besides a dedicated family and children's section.The museum offers interactive exhibits that incorporate advanced multimedia technologies, showcasing rare and unique artefacts that reflect the museum's message while providing engaging sensory storytelling, allowing visitors to actively engage with its rich cultural content and fostering dialogue between civilisations.A key highlight of the museum is the Diya – A Universe of Light interactive experience, a 360-degree immersive light display enhanced with sensory and auditory effects, including wind simulations that further elevate the experience.Since its inauguration in November 2024, the museum has drawn significant interest from dignitaries, scholars, and enthusiasts of Islamic civilisation and arts, welcoming 9,728 visitors to date.In 2024, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre reaffirmed its pivotal role among Islamic thought institutions by presenting an enlightened image of Islam through its religious programmes, which were introduced in a fresh new format. This included the launch of a series of short educational films inspired by the values of Islam.As part of this initiative, the centre introduced a new cultural video series titled Kursi AlJami, which explores various societal topics such as the best times for supplication, the meanings of the call to prayer, and interpretations of select Quranic verses, enriched by narratives from Islamic history and literature.A second series, Wamda Fiqhiyyah, was also launched, featuring members of the UAE Council for Fatwa. This series focuses on religious and jurisprudential topics relevant to different segments of society, delivering content in a simplified manner that helps individuals understand their religious duties more effectively.Both series reinforce the mosque's religious role and its commitment to serving the community.The centre continued to publish episodes of its existing religious and cultural series, including The Beautiful Names of Allah, Minbar Al Jami, Architecture and Arts, and Gheras Al-Qiyam.It also produced the Rare Books series, which presents excerpts from some of the most valuable and rare books housed in the mosque's library.Through the Manuscripts series, the centre highlighted rare Islamic manuscripts available in microfiche format, offering the wider public insight into the historical treasures preserved within the library.Throughout 2024, the centre released 115 episodes across these cultural and religious series, further solidifying its mission to promote Islamic knowledge and heritage to a global audience.The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre also released its latest publication, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: A Lights of Peace, which takes readers on a visual journey through the mosque's architectural beauty. The book features a collection of award-winning photographs from the Spaces of Light Photography Award, showcasing the mosque's distinctive architectural artistry.The centre published the Light & Peace Museum Catalogue and the Al-Andalus: History and Civilisation Exhibition Catalogue, further enriching its collection of publications that document and celebrate Islamic heritage, architecture, and culture.In 2024, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre continued its efforts in the 1446H Hijri Calendar Project, ensuring its accuracy based on scientific, religious, and astronomical principles. The centre enriched the 1446H Hijri Calendar with comprehensive and integrated content, including the wall-mounted Roznamah calendar and the newly introduced desk edition.The centre also released an updated version of the Hijri Calendar video series, presenting it in a fresh format. The centre enhanced the interactive smart application for the 1446H Hijri Calendar, making it accessible across all cities and regions in the UAE.To further expand accessibility, the centre launched the Interactive Roznamah, allowing users to explore the detailed content of the wall-mounted calendar and track prayer times effortlessly throughout the year.As a result of its diverse initiatives and projects, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has secured a top global ranking among the world's premier cultural and historical landmarks.
The mosque was ranked among the top 1 percent of tourist attractions worldwide and earned the title of the Middle East's top cultural and historical attraction, according to TripAdvisor, the globally recognised travel and tourism platform.
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Al Etihad
5 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Mohammed bin Rashid lays foundation stone for Dubai Metro Blue Line
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Iconic Station His Highness paused at the imposing large-scale model of the iconic Emaar Properties Station, where he was briefed by His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer on the highest metro station in the world, with a height of 74 metres. A new urban landmark, the new station complements Dubai's iconic infrastructure and embodies the emirate's vision to serve as a gateway to the future. It forms a striking visual presence that harmonises with the surrounding urban landscape, elevating the concept of placemaking and positioning the station as a primary destination for Blue Line users. The station also offers integrated commercial and investment an area of 11,000 square metres, the station is designed to handle up to 160,000 passengers, with more than 70,000 expected to use it daily once operational. It will serve the estimated 40,000 residents of Dubai Creek Harbour, in addition to arrival, passengers are greeted by a majestic architectural structure standing 74 metres tall and 38 metres wide, offering an immersive spatial experience from the moment they enter or disembark. The station's exterior features a towering facade that harmonises with the area's architectural identity. A central gateway allows natural light to flood down to the platform level, creating a bright and welcoming space during the day. Sunlight reflects off the stone surfaces, underscoring the station's timeless elegance. By night, it transforms into a radiant beacon that guides travellers, with a carefully planned lighting strategy that enhances its architectural character and reaffirms its role as a gateway to Dubai's bright future. Interior Design The interior design of the station is curated to create a sense of luxury. Towering walls rise elegantly, finished in natural textures and warm, earthy tones that strengthen the connection to the land, reflect the spirit of place, and embody the community's resilience and cohesion. The overall architectural language creates a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for all material palette features premium, durable finishes such as Jura limestone and bronze metal wall panels at the platform level, complemented by robust granite flooring. At both the lobby and platform levels, glass ceiling panels allow natural light to permeate the space, enhancing the feeling of openness and elevating the overall passenger experience. The combination of natural stone and polished metal creates a balance between elegance and sophistication, giving the station a distinctive character that unites tradition with station's construction materials were meticulously chosen to reflect a blend of heritage and modernity, incorporating stone, glass, and bronze, forming a symbol of Dubai's continuous pursuit of progress. Its dynamic form and architectural scale create a distinctive visual presence. Sustainability, longevity, and resilience to operational and climatic conditions were central to the selection process, supporting the station's ambition to meet the highest standards of environmental efficiency. Naming Rights During the ceremony, it was announced that Emaar had secured the naming rights for the iconic Emaar Properties Station for ten years, starting from its official inauguration in 2029. The next phase will include announcements regarding naming rights for other stations along the Blue the conclusion of the event, His Highness joined the team overseeing the Blue Line project for a commemorative photo. The team included RTA staff members, the contractor consortium, and project consultants. The World's Best City The Blue Line consists of 14 stations, including three interchange stations at Al Jaddaf, Al Rashidiya and International City 1, as well as an iconic station in Dubai Creek Harbour. By 2040, daily ridership on the Blue Line is projected to reach 320,000 passengers. It marks the first Dubai Metro line to cross Dubai Creek on a 1,300-metre-long Blue Line connects and integrates the existing red and green lines, supporting the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, aimed at transforming Dubai into the world's best city to live in by offering sustainable and soft mass transit solutions. These solutions are designed to facilitate the mobility of both residents and visitors, promoting well-being and enhancing Dubai's global competitiveness as a leading destination for hosting international events. Additionally, they align with the aspirations of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which aims to create a '20-minute city.' This innovative concept ensures that more than 80% of essential services are within a 20-minute travel time for residents, fostering a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) new line offers direct connectivity between Dubai International Airport and nine key areas, including Mirdif, Al Warqa, International City 1 and 2, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Academic City, Ras Al Khor Industrial Area, Dubai Creek Harbour, and Dubai Festival City. Travel time along the route is expected to range between 10 and 25 minutes. Key Elements of the Blue Line The Dubai Metro Blue Line features 14 stations, including three interchange stations: Creek Station at Al Jaddaf on the Green Line, Centrepoint Station at Al Rashidiya on the Red Line, and International City 1 Station on the Blue Line, in addition to the iconic station located in Dubai Creek Harbour. The line includes nine elevated stations and five underground line has all the features of an integrated transport system, including public bus bays, taxi stands, dedicated areas for bike and electric scooter racks, and parking spaces for People of maximum capacity of the Dubai Metro Blue Line exceeds 850,000 passengers per day, based on the scale of the stations included within the project scope. Passenger numbers are expected to reach 200,000 per day by 2030, rising to 320,000 per day by 2040. Fifth Strategic Project Dubai Metro Blue Line represents the fifth strategic public transport project, joining the ranks of the existing red and green lines of the Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram and Dubai Metro Route 2020. It is one of the largest upcoming strategic transport the completion of the Blue Line, Dubai's total railway network will extend from 101 km to 131 km. This includes 120 km for the Dubai Metro and 11 km for Dubai Tram. The number of metro and tram stations will increase from 64 to 78, encompassing 67 stations for the Dubai Metro and 11 stations for the Dubai the fleet will expand from 140 to 168 trains, including 157 for the Dubai Metro and 11 for the Dubai Tram. Setting New Benchmarks The Dubai Metro Blue Line offers a range of distinctive features. In addition to the iconic Emaar Properties Station, it includes the first Dubai Metro bridge crossing Dubai Creek, stretching 1,300 metres. The line is also home to the largest underground interchange station in the network, spanning over 44,000 square metres with a projected capacity of 350,000 passengers per day. Notably, the Blue Line is the first transport project in Dubai to fully comply with green building standards, achieving Platinum Category certification. 50,000 University Students The Dubai Metro Blue Line was meticulously planned with sustainability in mind, ensuring it connects existing and future high population densities, estimated to reach around one million residents by 2040. Key areas served by the Blue Line include Dubai Creek Harbour and Dubai Festival City, noted for their immense development potential, as well as International City, home to Dragon Mart and large residential complexes visited by over 200,000 residents and visitors. It also serves residential neighbourhoods like Al Rashidiya, Al Warqaa, and Mirdif. 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The total anticipated benefits will exceed Dh56.5 billion by 2040. These benefits include substantial savings in time and fuel, reduced accident-related fatalities, and lower carbon Blue Line is also expected to decrease traffic congestion on its served routes by 20% and appreciate the value of land and properties near stations by up to 25%. The Blue Line also provides a direct connection between Dubai International Airport and nine key areas situated along its route. It connects with the fifth urban centre, Dubai Silicon Oasis Centre, ensuring that all major urban centres in Dubai are seamlessly connected by metro lines. Backbone of Transportation System The endorsement of the Dubai Metro Blue Line signifies a major milestone, building upon the huge success the Dubai Metro has achieved since its inauguration on 9/9/2009. The Metro has emerged as the backbone of Dubai's transportation network, becoming the preferred mode of travel for both residents and visitors. 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