The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre welcomed 3,226,103 guests across its mosques during Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr, recording the highest number of iftar meals ever served at the Abu Dhabi mosque and distributing over 2.6 million meals nationwide.
ABU DHABI: In a Ramadan unlike any other, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre opened its doors to more than three million souls, offering prayer, community, and sustenance to guests from across the UAE and the world.
The centre welcomed a total of 3,226,103 guests across all mosques it manages nationwide during the holy month of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr prayers, a figure that speaks to the enduring spiritual and cultural significance of these extraordinary institutions.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi led the way, receiving 1,695,698 guests, including 510,046 worshippers, 205,642 visitors, 4,862 track users, and a record-breaking 980,010 iftar guests, the highest number of iftar meals ever recorded at the mosque in a single Ramadan. Sheikh Khalifa Grand Mosque in Al Ain welcomed 960,011 guests, while Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Fujairah received 507,222 guests. In Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Khalifa Grand Mosque recorded 63,172 worshippers during the same period.
Across all mosques, the centre distributed 2,605,810 iftar meals as part of the Our Fasting Guests initiative, implemented annually in memory of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, under Erth Zayed Philanthropies through Zayed for Good Foundation and in collaboration with Erth Abu Dhabi.
Dr Yousef Al Obaidli, Director-General of the centre, described the Ramadan season as a national model of institutional integration and community responsibility, praising the dedication of volunteers and teams whose efforts, he said, reflect the Emirati values of giving and collaboration.
The spiritual experience was enriched by a distinguished group of imams, including Idris Abkar, Yahya Aishan, Alaa Al Mazjaji, Abdullah Al Balushi, and Abdulbasit Abdulsamad, who led Taraweeh and Tahajjud prayers throughout the month.
Beyond prayer, the centre came alive with culture, education, and community. More than 10 Ramadan initiatives were launched, including the Afnan digital platforms, the Echoes of the Grand Mosque programme, and the Dhay Photography Competition under the theme “Ramadan at the Mosque.” The Jusoor programme brought together 164 participants from embassies and universities including New York University Abu Dhabi, while 18 presidential guest lectures were held after Taraweeh prayers in cooperation with the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments and Zakat.
Visitors also explored Souq Al Jami’, the Dome of Peace, and the Masabeeh Ramadan market, which featured 18 kiosks in the mosque’s outer courtyards. The centre produced more than 130 media materials, with coverage from over 560 local, regional, and international outlets generating nearly 1,900 news reports and social media posts.
It was, by every measure, a Ramadan to remember.
