The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi hosted 1,695,698 visitors.
Dubai: The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre (SZGMC) hosted over 3.2 million worshippers and visitors across its network of mosques during Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr, according to figures released by the Centre.
A total of 3,226,103 guests attended mosques under SZGMC’s management, including the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa Grand Mosque in Al Ain, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Fujairah, and Sheikh Khalifa Grand Mosque in Ras Al Khaimah. The Abu Dhabi mosque alone welcomed nearly 1.7 million visitors, making it the busiest site during the holy month.
Record Iftar distribution
The Centre also announced a record number of Iftar meals distributed through its annual “Our Fasting Guests” initiative, held in honour of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
A total of 2,605,810 Iftar meals were distributed across the mosques during Ramadan, including 980,010 meals at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi—the highest in the mosque’s history. Sheikh Khalifa Grand Mosque in Al Ain served 550,240 meals, while Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Fujairah distributed 265,560 meals.
The initiative was carried out under the umbrella of Erth Zayed Philanthropies and the Zayed for Good Foundation, in collaboration with strategic partner Erth Abu Dhabi.
Spiritual atmosphere and religious programmes
Taraweeh and Tahajjud prayers were conducted by a distinguished group of imams, including Idris Abkar, Yahya Aishan, Alaa Al-Mazjaji, Abdullah Al-Balushi, and Abdulbasit Abdulsamad, fostering a spiritually uplifting environment throughout the holy month.
On Zayed Humanitarian Day, the Centre distributed an audio Qur’an recited by the mosque’s imams as part of its religious and cultural initiatives.
Additionally, the Centre hosted three Ramadan lectures under the Mohamed bin Zayed Majlis and organised 18 lectures delivered by scholars who were Guests of the UAE President, in collaboration with the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, and Zakat.
Cultural tours and community engagement
The Centre continued to foster cultural awareness through guided mosque tours and community programmes. During Ramadan, 87 cultural tours were held for over 1,400 visitors, showcasing Islamic culture, the mosque’s architecture, and the UAE’s values of tolerance and coexistence.
Tourism companies facilitated 3,491 bookings, welcoming 72,205 visitors, while 27 official delegations, comprising 652 guests, were also hosted at the mosque.
The sixth season of the “Bridges” programme brought together 164 participants—including diplomats from Australia, the United States, Canada, and Slovenia, as well as students and community members—for volunteer activities and Iftar gatherings aimed at promoting cross-cultural dialogue.
Volunteers and logistics support
Over 600 volunteers assisted with operations during Ramadan, including SZGMC staff, Emirates Red Crescent volunteers, and community groups such as “Abshir Ya Watan” and “Ma’an,” alongside police, paramedics, and civil defence personnel.
The Centre coordinated with more than 20 government entities and institutions to manage crowd flow, traffic, and safety, with additional support from Mawaqif and Saaed for Traffic Systems.
Digital and media outreach
The Centre enhanced its digital and media presence during Ramadan by launching the “Afnan” social media platform, sharing religious and cultural content, including imam recitations and Ramadan programmes.
Over 130 media materials were produced, while more than 560 local, regional, and international media outlets covered the Centre’s activities, resulting in over 1,900 news reports and social media features.
The Centre also provided regular updates to the public throughout Ramadan—including imam schedules, services, and daily religious content—as part of its ongoing community engagement efforts.
