Abu Dhabi: SiltaNews – News Desk
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in Abu Dhabi continues to consolidate its position as one of the most prominent cultural and religious landmarks, offering a comprehensive tourism experience that combines the aesthetics of Islamic architecture, cultural content, and diverse services that meet the aspirations of visitors from around the world.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has become a major destination for dignitaries and tourists from around the world, and a crossroads of diverse cultures. It attracts approximately 7 million guests annually, with visitors from outside the UAE accounting for 82% of the total.
In a statement marking World Tourism Day, which falls on September 27th each year, His Excellency Dr. Yousef Al Obaidli, Director General of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, emphasized that the mosque represents a distinguished model of sustainable cultural tourism in the UAE.
He said, “At the centre, we are committed to providing an integrated cultural experience that combines the aesthetics of Islamic architecture with rich cultural content, while taking into account the environmental, social and cultural dimensions, in line with the country’s drive towards sustainable tourism. We also work to raise awareness of Islamic heritage and present it in a contemporary style that meets the aspirations of various groups.”
He pointed out that the global achievements achieved by the mosque year after year reflect its success in combining authenticity and innovation. The
number of guests reached 4,346,831 in the first half of this year, achieving a 5% increase over the number of guests in the first half of last year, which contributed to an increase in the average visitor stay in the mosque from two to four hours on average. This increase is due to the diversity of cultural and educational experiences offered by the center, most notably the “Sura” experience, which offers 24-hour tours for transit travelers or those unable to visit during official hours.
The “Guide” device offers virtual tours in 14 languages using virtual reality technologies, with support for people of determination, including the blind and deaf, with the aim of conveying the mosque’s cultural message of tolerance. The “Hidden Glimpses of the Mosque” tours also allow visitors to explore architectural and cultural details via specially adapted electric vehicles.
The center enriches its guests’ experience through more than 5,400 cultural tours annually, presented in several languages, including Arabic, English, French, Russian, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and others, in addition to tours in sign language, supervised by qualified national cadres who reflect the cultural image of the UAE.
The center also continues to consolidate its role as a global hub for cultural dialogue in the “Peace Dome,” which houses the unique “Noor and Peace” Museum, featuring interactive displays that simulate the atmosphere of the three holy mosques, and rare artifacts such as the Kaaba belt, the Blue Qur’an, and the Andalusian astrolabe.
The museum offers diverse cultural content targeting various audiences, from researchers and those interested in arts and sciences, to children, for whom a special section has been dedicated. The museum also features the “Diya Interactive Experience,” an interactive experience that forms an integral part of the “Noor and Peace” Museum. It blends art and technology, and its message is inspired by authentic Emirati values.
The experience represents a qualitative addition to the center’s array of cultural experiences. It is presented in a visual narrative style that engages multiple senses, utilizing 360-degree rotating projection technology to transport visitors on a captivating sensory journey through light, sound, and touch effects, including simulations of natural elements such as wind, light, and sound in captivating scenes.
The Peace Dome also includes the mosque’s specialized library, a cultural theater, permanent and temporary exhibitions, the mosque’s souk, which features restaurants and shops catering to all age groups, and the “Bree Al-Jami'” mural. It’s worth noting that the mosque occupies an exceptional position on the global tourism map. This year, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque ranked eighth on TripAdvisor’s 2025 list of the world’s most prominent tourist attractions, advancing two places from its 2024 ranking, and maintaining its first place in the Middle East.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Fujairah, managed by the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, is one of Fujairah’s most important landmarks and a unique cultural and tourist destination. For the first time, the mosque was ranked among the top 10% of landmarks worldwide, according to travelers’ choices from around the world. The mosque welcomes all visitors from diverse cultures and religions, and opens its doors daily. Specialists at the mosque offer cultural tours in Arabic or English, allowing visitors to learn about its role in bridging the gap between different cultures and explore the most prominent details of Islamic architecture and arts.