Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center has recorded a historic milestone this year, welcoming 3,226,103 guests during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr prayers at its mosques in the UAE, one of the highest figures ever.The huge crowds include worshippers, visitors and thousands of people who gather daily for Iftar, reflecting the growing spiritual and cultural importance of these mosques during the holy month.At the center of this record is Abu Dhabi’s iconic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque; It alone welcomed 1,695,698 guests, confirming its status as one of the most visited religious sites in the world.
Heavy turnout witnessed in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Fujairah
The record-breaking numbers were spread across multiple mosques managed by the Centre, with each seeing significant numbers during Ramadan and Eid.
- Abu Dhabi’s Grand Mosque: 1.69 million guests, including more than 510,000 worshipers and nearly 1 million iftar feasters
- Sheikh Khalifa Grand Mosque: 960,011 guests, driven by strong community participation
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Fujairah: 507,222 guests, including worshipers and visitors
- Ras Al Khaimah Mosque recorded 63,172 worshipers during the same period
The Abu Dhabi Mosque also set a new record for Iftar meals, with 980,010 meals served, the highest ever at the venue. Across all locations, 2.6 million iftar meals were distributed as part of the annual Ramadan initiative.
Ramadan initiative attracts millions of people
Beyond prayers, the increase in visitors was driven by a wide range of Ramadan initiatives designed to deepen community engagement.The Centre’s flagship “Our Fasting Guests” program provided millions of Iftar meals, continuing the UAE’s legacy inspired by its founding values of generosity and service.More than 10 initiatives were launched during Ramadan, including:
- Digital religious and cultural platforms like Afnan
- Educational programs such as Echoes of the Grand Mosque and Kursi Al Jami’
- A series of Ramzan lectures organized in collaboration with national institutions
Special events including Zayed Humanitarian Day, along with distributing Qurans to worshipers and visitors, were also added to the outreach.These efforts transformed mosques into not just places of worship, but vibrant centers of education, charity, and cultural exchange.
Why is this the case?
What makes this record even more significant is the broader context in which it was achieved.Despite regional tensions during Ramadan, worshipers continued to gather in large numbers, highlighting the mosque’s role as a symbol of unity, resilience and faith.Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is not only a spiritual center but also a global cultural landmark. It welcomed approximately 6.85 million visitors in 2025, the highest annual figure in its history, underscoring its international appeal.Together with its ability to host thousands of worshipers at once and its reputation as one of the most prestigious mosques in the world, its ability to attract millions of people during Ramadan reflects both its scale and importance.
looking ahead
The 3.22 million visitors this year is more than just a statistic, it signals the mosque’s enduring role in bringing communities, cultures and faiths together during one of the most important times in the Islamic calendar.From record-breaking Iftar distribution to packed prayer rooms during Eid, the numbers tell a bigger story: of generosity, devotion and a shared spiritual experience that grows year after year.