Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of Abu Dhabi's most beloved landmarks, recorded more than 4.37 million visits in the first half of 2024 — its highest ever figure for that period. The total of 4,379,258 visits marks a substantial jump from the 3.3 million recorded in H1 2023 and well above the 1.5 million registered across all of 2022, underscoring the mosque's surging global profile.
Record Visitor Numbers in H1 2024
Of the 4,379,258 total visits, 2,584,425 were residents and tourists while 1,765,698 were worshippers. An additional 29,135 people made use of the jogging track within the mosque's expansive grounds during the same six-month period.
Record-Breaking Ramadan
The holy month of Ramadan produced the mosque's most remarkable single day on record. On April 5 — the 27th day of Ramadan 1445 AH — the mosque hosted 87,186 people. Of those, 70,680 Muslims gathered in the evening to mark Laylat Al Qadr, the holiest night in the Islamic calendar.
Throughout Ramadan, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre distributed 2.15 million iftar meals in total. Some 650,000 meals were served within the mosque itself, while a further 1.5 million were delivered to labour cities across Abu Dhabi as part of the centre's "Our Fasting Guests" charity initiative.
Global Appeal
The mosque's visitor data reflects its standing as a truly international destination. Independent visits accounted for 81 per cent of the total, with the vast majority made by travellers from outside the UAE.
Asia led all regions with a 52 per cent share, followed by Europe at 34 per cent, North America at 7 per cent, Africa and South America at 3 per cent each, and Australia at 1 per cent. By country, India topped the list at 22 per cent, followed by China at 11 per cent, Russia at 8 per cent, and Germany and the United States at 4 per cent each.
The mosque's global reputation has also been validated by independent rankings. It currently holds the top spot on TripAdvisor's Top Attractions list for the Middle East, reinforcing its status as the region's premier destination for religious tourism and cultural heritage.
