The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has achieved a significant milestone by securing an advanced global position among the best cultural and historical landmarks worldwide, according to a report published by TripAdvisor, a travel and tourism expert, for the year 2024. The report's findings were based on the analysis of over 8 million data cards submitted by travelers of various nationalities, who evaluated the most important landmarks in the world.
The United Arab Emirates had the highest number of tourist attractions in the Middle East according to TripAdvisor's 2024 classification, with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque ranking as the top attraction in the region.
**First Place in the Region**
In the "Most Important Attractions" category, the mosque ranked tenth globally and first in the Middle East among 25 attractions worldwide. In the "Most Important Experiences" category, the mosque came in at seventeenth globally and second in the Middle East for the experience of travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi (which includes the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Qasr Al Watan, and Etihad Towers). In the "Cultural and Historical Experiences" category, the mosque achieved third place globally among 25 landmarks worldwide. This marks significant progress compared to the 2023 results, with the mosque moving up five ranks in the "Most Important Attractions" category, three ranks in the "Most Important Experiences," and four ranks in the "Cultural and Historical Experiences" category.
**Credit to Visionary Leadership**
Regarding this accomplishment, Dr. Yousef Al Obaidli, Director General of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center, stated: "The mosque's achievement of this global milestone reflects the wise vision of the leadership. These results are the fruits of the center's five-year strategic plan aimed at developing its services and providing new experiences for its visitors. It confirms the center's success in training over 250 young Emiratis in providing cultural tours and visitor services, employing center staff and graduates from the 'Ibn Al-Dar' program, part of the 'Building Youth' initiative. They conduct more than 5,000 cultural tours at the mosque, serving over 7 million visitors from different cultures around the world annually, 80% of whom come from outside the country, meeting in the mosque's premises regardless of their cultural and religious differences."
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center works on developing facilities and diversifying the various, integrated activities and services it offers to its visitors at high standards, to meet their needs and allow them to spend a full day within its premises. The visitor center includes exhibition halls, a theater, and a library, while the mosque’s market contains shops, recreational areas, and restaurants catering to various age groups within a unique atmosphere. There is also a sports path that offers community members from various demographics and cultures the chance to exercise while enjoying services against the magnificent external backdrop of the mosque.
**Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi**
The center operates according to a five-year strategic plan and an integrated system through specialized staff in various fields, working efficiently to provide exceptional experiences for mosque visitors from various cultures. The center also focuses on developing the capabilities of its staff in different areas to provide the best services that befit its status as a leading religious and cultural beacon.
Visitors can enjoy various experiences, such as the “Hidden Glimpses of the Mosque” tours, which take families and other groups on cultural tours using specially equipped electric vehicles that display the mosque's details, including exclusive stops they may not have previously encountered. The center also offers “Sera” night cultural tours from 10:00 PM to 9:00 AM, allowing visitors to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the state the opportunity to visit the mosque during international transit times. Participants in these night tours can learn about aspects previously unknown to visitors, such as routine maintenance and exceptional cleaning operations conducted in the mosque during the tours. Additionally, mosque visitors benefit from the “Guide” service, a multimedia device providing exceptional virtual cultural tours in 14 world languages, enabling a 24-hour opportunity to explore one of the most attractive religious, national, and cultural landmarks for tourism globally.
