Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Introduces Entry Fee for First Time: Dh5 for UAE Residents, Dh10 for Tourists, With Over 3.1 Million Visitors in First Half of 2026

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre announced on September 17 that visitors to Abu Dhabi's landmark white-marble mosque must now pay entry fees — Dh5 for UAE Emirates ID holders and Dh10 for international tourists — marking the first time the complex has charged for general admission since opening in 2007. Visitors aged 60 and older, children under three years, and people of determination can still enter free of charge. The mosque remains free for worshippers. Tickets must be booked online through the official website, with reservations available up to one month in advance. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre welcomed 3,127,607 guests during the first six months of 2026, consisting of 1,841,305 worshippers and fasting guests, 1,241,808 visitors from various nationalities, and 44,494 users of the recreational walking track. International visitors accounted for 78 percent of the mosque's total visitors, with Asia representing 52 percent, followed by Europe at 31 percent. India ranked first by country, followed by China, Russia, the United States, and Germany. The entry fee applies only to the mosque complex itself; additional experiences — including the Light & Peace Museum and Diya, an immersive 360-degree journey using sound and light — each require a separate Dh25 ticket. The new fee structure represents a revenue-generation shift for one of Abu Dhabi's most prominent cultural and tourism landmarks, which was envisioned by UAE Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and completed in 2007. The mosque is open to visitors from 9am to 8:30pm Saturday through Thursday, and from 9am to 11:30am and 2:30pm to 8:30pm on Fridays.