Kamal Ghorui
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre has recorded a historic milestone this year, welcoming 3,226,103 guests during Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr prayers across its mosques in the UAE, one of the highest figures ever reported.The massive turnout includes worshippers, visitors, and thousands who gathered daily for iftar, reflecting the growing spiritual and cultural importance of these mosques during the holy month.At the heart of this record is the iconic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is at the heart of this record; it alone welcomed 1,695,698 guests, reaffirming its position as one of the world’s most visited religious landmarks.
Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Fujairah see massive turnout
The record-breaking numbers were spread across multiple mosques managed by the centre, each seeing significant footfall during Ramadan and Eid.
- Abu Dhabi’s Grand Mosque: 1.69 million guests, including over 510,000 worshippers and nearly 1 million iftar diners
- Sheikh Khalifa Grand Mosque: 960,011 guests, driven by strong community participation
- Sheikh
Zayed Grand Mosque Fujairah: 507,222 guests, including worshippers and visitors - Ras Al Khaimah mosque recorded 63,172 worshippers during the same period
The Abu Dhabi mosque also set a new record for iftar meals, serving 980,010 meals, the highest ever at the site. Across all locations, a staggering 2.6 million iftar meals were distributed as part of the annual Ramadan initiative.
Ramadan initiatives draw millions
Beyond prayers, the surge in visitors was driven by a wide range of Ramadan initiatives designed to deepen community engagement.The centre’s flagship “Our Fasting Guests” programmme provided millions of iftar meals, continuing a legacy inspired by the UAE’s founding values of generosity and service.More than 10 initiatives were launched during Ramadan, including:
- Digital religious and cultural platforms like Afnan
- Educational programmes such as Echoes of the Grand Mosque and Kursi Al Jami’
- A series of Ramadan lectures held in collaboration with national institutions
Special events, including Zayed Humanitarian Day, further added to the outreach, with Qurans distributed to worshippers and visitors.These efforts transformed the mosques into vibrant hubs of learning, charity and cultural exchange, not just places of worship.
Why this matter?
What makes this record even more significant is the broader context in which it was achieved.Despite regional tensions during Ramadan, worshippers continued to gather in large numbers, highlighting the mosque’s role as a symbol of unity, resilience and faith.The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is not only a spiritual centre but also a global cultural landmark. It welcomed nearly 6.85 million visitors in 2025, the highest annual figure in its history, underlining its international appeal.With the capacity to host tens of thousands of worshippers at once and its reputation as one of the world’s most iconic mosques, its ability to attract millions during Ramadan reflects both its scale and its significance.
Looking ahead
This year’s 3.22 million visitors is more than just a statistic, it signals the mosque’s enduring role in bringing together communities, cultures and faiths during one of the most important times in the Islamic calendar.From record-breaking iftar distributions to packed prayer halls during Eid, the numbers tell a larger story: one of generosity, devotion and a shared spiritual experience that continues to grow year after year.
