The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi has started charging visitors. The cost is 5 UAE dirhams for UAE ID holders and 10 UAE dirhams for tourists. However, access to the vast complex remains free for individuals over 60 years old, under three years old, and people with disabilities.
Tickets for visits can be purchased through the official website www.szgmc.gov.ae. The mosque's operating hours are from 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM from Saturday to Thursday, and on Friday from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM and then from 2:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Guests are advised to book their visit no later than one month in advance.
In addition to the mosque itself, the complex offers various experiences, including the final resting place of the founder of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Among these experiences is the Diya program, an immersive 360-degree journey using light and sound. It begins with the starry sky and descends to the land of the UAE, showcasing the country's rich heritage. Tickets for Diya cost 25 UAE dirhams.
Furthermore, the Light and Peace Museum is located in the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center, introducing visitors to stories of faith, inspiration, and coexistence. The museum offers rich content, including interactive and sensory exhibits, valuable artifacts, and works of art that combine tradition and creativity. Entry to the museum also costs 25 UAE dirhams. A pass to visit the museum and participate in the Diya program can be purchased for 40 UAE dirhams.
In the first half of 2026, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center welcomed 3,127,607 guests. The total number of visitors included 1,841,305 worshippers and pilgrims, 1,241,808 visitors of different nationalities, and 44,494 users of the walking track in the Center.
Only on the night of the 27th day of Ramadan did the mosque host 53,902 worshippers, of whom 8,056 performed Tarawih prayers and 45,846 performed Tahajjud prayers, in an atmosphere of tranquility and serenity. Statistics showed that 78 percent of mosque visitors came from outside the UAE. By continent, Asia ranked first with 52 percent of visitors, followed by Europe (31 percent), North America (10 percent), while Africa and South America accounted for 3 percent each, and Australia for 1 percent.
By country, India was the leader, accounting for 21 percent of all international visitors, followed by China (10 percent), Russia (8 percent), the United States (7 percent), and Germany (4 percent). The Philippines, the United Kingdom, France, Poland, and Pakistan also contributed 3 percent each to the number of international guests.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center, which manages the complex, was established in 2008 by decree of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court. Its goal is to highlight the noble deeds of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, promote his legacy, and emphasize his high qualities and humanitarian contribution. The mosque is named after the late founder of the UAE, who dreamed of building a mosque that reflected the moderation of Islam.
The complex is also conceived as a place that promotes a culture of tolerance, serving as a global Islamic cultural center that emphasizes the values of coexistence and tolerance among peoples, and is known as a unique cultural and tourist attraction. The first ideas for building the mosque arose in the late 1980s, and construction began on November 5, 1996. The maximum capacity is about 50,000 people. The indoor prayer halls were first opened for Eid al-Adha services in 2007 and have remained open since then.