In 2024, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi reached an unprecedented level of attendance, welcoming more than 6,5 million visitors. This number is 20% higher than the previous year. Of the total number of visitors, 2,2 million were worshipers who came for prayers, and 4,2 million were tourists. In addition, about 60 thousand people used the mosque's treadmill, reports russianemirates.com.
The statistics of prayer services also show significant figures: almost 282 thousand believers took part in Friday prayers, and 709,8 thousand in daily prayers. The holy month of Ramadan and the Eid al-Fitr holiday were especially crowded, when 617 thousand worshipers visited the mosque. The absolute record was set on April 5, when the total number of visitors reached 87 thousand people, including 70 thousand believers.
Within the framework of the Our Fasting Guests charity program, the mosque organized the distribution of more than 2 million iftar meals. Of these, 650,000 meals were distributed directly on the territory of the holy shrine, and 1.5 million were distributed in various areas of Abu Dhabi.
It is noteworthy that the vast majority of the mosque's guests in 2024 (81%) were foreign tourists. The majority of visitors were from Asia - 52%, followed by Europeans (33%) and guests from North America (8%). In terms of nationality, the leaders were citizens of India (841 thousand), China (397 thousand) and Russia (293 thousand).
The most intense flow of visitors was recorded on the second day of the Eid al-Fitr holiday – 32,7 thousand people per day. Over the year, the mosque hosted 5,6 thousand excursion tours and received 1,5 thousand official delegations.
Among the high-ranking guests, 309 special-level delegations visited the mosque, including eight heads of state, one vice president, three state governors, four sheikhs and princes, nine prime ministers and seven deputy prime ministers.
