The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre (SZGMC) in Abu Dhabi has seen a significant rise in visits recently. Over 3.3 million people visited the mosque in the first half of 2023, a 127 percent increase over the previous year.
According to Arabian Business, there were 914,195 worshippers and 2,388,437 tourists among these visitors. A total of 1,684,409 tourists visited the mosque, with 704,028 exploring the visitor center and market.
It’s also worth noting the number of Israeli guests. Nearly 54,000 Israelis visited SZGMC, outnumbering the approximately 47,500 Pakistani visitors.
The SZGMC is a gorgeous tourist site that is well-known around the world. People travel from all over the world to see its beautiful architecture and religious significance.
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It is worth noting that 81% of visitors came from countries outside than the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The mosque is significant for reasons other than religion. It contains amenities such as a running track, which was utilized by over 32,000 individuals in the first half of the year. The library at the mosque was visited by 1,104 persons, while 757,026 cars transported visitors to the mosque.
The Grand Mosque has gained international acclaim. TripAdvisor’s “Travelers’ Choice Awards for 2022: the Best of the Best Destinations” ranking ranked it first in the region and fourth in the “Top Attractions” category.
Furthermore, it ranked eighth worldwide in the “Top Cultural and Historical Tours” classification.
The mosque has also become a popular stop for government delegations. 648 bookings were made in the first half of the year, involving 10,979 people. These delegations comprised high-ranking officials such as heads of state, prime ministers, and members of parliament.
Cultural tours at the mosque are critical in spreading the message of tolerance based on Islamic principles. Experts led 2,637 cultural trips, drawing 37,402 international visitors.
Visitors to the mosque come from all around the world. India, Russia, China, the United States (US), Germany, Italy, France, Israel, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom (UK) are the top countries of origin for visitors.
Here is a list of the top ten countries of origin for visitors:
| Sr. | Country | Number of Visitors |
| 1 | India | 393,566 |
| 2 | Russia | 130,023 |
| 3 | China | 99,277 |
| 4 | US | 92,364 |
| 5 | Germany | 76,857 |
| 6 | Italy | 61,330 |
| 7 | France | 53,996 |
| 8 | Israel | 53,974 |
| 9 | Pakistan | 47,640 |
| 10 | UK | 45,790 |
