The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in Abu Dhabi experienced a significant increase in visitors during the first half of 2023. Over 3.3 million people visited the mosque, marking a 127% rise compared to the same period last year. Of the visitors, 914,195 were worshippers, while 2,388,437 were tourists.
Out of the tourist visitors, 1,684,409 visited the mosque itself, and 704,028 explored the mosque’s visitor centre and market. Additionally, 32,125 individuals used the mosque’s jogging track during this period. The majority of visitors (81%) were international tourists, showcasing the mosque’s status as a top global tourist attraction. Domestic visitors accounted for the remaining 19%.
The mosque’s library welcomed 1,104 visitors, and a total of 757,026 vehicles transported visitors to the mosque.
These figures highlight the mosque’s recognition and success, having ranked first in the region and fourth in the “Top Attractions” subcategory of TripAdvisor’s ‘Travelers’ Choice Awards for 2022: The Best of the Best Destinations’ list. It also secured the ninth position globally in the awards’ “Top Cultural & Historical Tours” subcategory.
During the first half of the year, the mosque hosted 648 official delegation bookings, consisting of 10,979 individuals. Among these delegations were 167 high-level visits, including 10 heads of state, three deputy heads of state, two prime ministers, six parliament heads, 36 ministers, four deputy ministers, and 19 ambassadors and consuls-general. Additionally, the mosque conducted 2,637 cultural tours, attracting 37,402 visitors from around the world. These cultural tours played a crucial role in promoting the mosque’s message of tolerance based on the true teachings of Islam.
The mosque presented a variety of religious and cultural programs, showcasing Islamic culture and local heritage in an innovative manner. More than 1,365 visitors attended these programs during the first half of 2023, including the Jusoor program and others.
On April 21, the mosque witnessed the highest number of worshippers in a single day, with 63,919 individuals performing prayers.
During Ramadan and the Eid Al Fitr holidays, the mosque experienced a surge in both worshippers and tourists, with a total of 852,714 visitors. Among them, 452,047 people performed prayers at the mosque during this holy month, including 122,449 for evening and Taraweeh prayers, and 180,896 for Tahajjud prayers.
In terms of visitor origin, India ranked first with 393,566 visitors, followed by Russia (130,023), China (99,277), the US (92,364), Germany (76,857), Italy (61,330), France (53,996), Israel (53,974), Pakistan (47,640), and the UK (45,790).
