Visiting the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque opening hours and prayer-time closures

As of October 2026, visiting hours are:

On Fridays the mosque closes to visitors from 12:00 to 14:30 for the midday prayer. Last entry before the break is 11:30, so on a Friday the afternoon is easier.

During Ramadan hours change. In the first 20 days the mosque is open to visitors Mon – Sun 09:00–18:00 and 21:30–01:00, Fri 14:30–18:00 and 21:30–01:00; in the last 10 days, Mon – Sun 09:00–18:00, Fri 14:30–18:00. Ramadan moves each year with the lunar calendar; in 2027 it is expected to start around 8 February 2027, depending on the sighting of the moon. Hours can also change on public holidays, so check the official site the day before.

Tickets, booking and prices

Every visitor needs a pass booked online on the mosque center's website (szgmc.gov.ae), and you can book up to about a month ahead. As of October 2026:

Visitors aged 60 and over also enter free. Some news reports add children under 3 and people of determination (people with disabilities) to the free list; confirm when you book. The fee was introduced in September 2026.

Some extras cost more, as The National reported in September 2026:

• Light & Peace Museum, with five themed sections and more than 65 rare objects: AED 25 (≈ $7), open 09:00–22:00 (last entry 21:30).
• Diya, a 360-degree show of about 8 minutes: AED 25 (≈ $7). A combined ticket for both costs AED 40 (≈ $11).
• Tour of the main prayer hall: AED 30 (≈ $8).

Dress code for men and women at the masjid

The mosque asks all visitors, men and women, to wear long, loose clothing. In practice:

• Women: loose clothes down to the ankles, sleeves to the wrists, and a scarf covering the hair. Nothing tight or see-through.
• Men: long trousers and a shirt with at least short sleeves; no shorts or sleeveless tops.
• Children are welcome but must stay with their parents at all times.

The mosque does not lend abayas or kandouras at the entrance, whatever older blogs say. If your clothes don't meet the code, you can buy an abaya at Souq Al Jami next to the mosque for about AED 45 (≈ $12). It's simpler to bring a scarf and long clothes with you.

Inside the grounds, smoking is not allowed, and you cannot bring food; only water is permitted. Strollers, and electric carts for older visitors and people with disabilities, are available on request from the security staff. Photography rules are in the section on photos below.

How the visit works: from the Visitor Centre to the prayer hall

Everything starts at the Visitor Centre, so plan the visit in this order:

1. Book the pass. On szgmc.gov.ae you pick a date and time and confirm with a one-time password sent to your email; the pass is issued online. The center asks for private tours to be booked at least 24 hours ahead. Worshippers do not need a pass.
2. Arrive at the Visitor Centre. It stands beside the mosque, and Souq Al Jami, a market of about 50 shops that opened in January 2020, is beside it. You enter through the Visitor Centre and follow the designated visitor routes.
3. Pass the security check. Metal items, weapons and sharp objects are not allowed and are taken at the check. The official list of banned items also includes fireworks, e-cigarettes, dolls, masks and flags, so travel light.
4. Walk the courtyard and the arcades. The visitor route leads across the courtyard and along the colonnades to the main prayer hall.
5. Go inside the prayer hall. The prayer hall is part of the route during visiting hours; the paid tour mentioned above goes into it with a guide.

The whole visit takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, including time for photos. Visitors with disabilities get priority service.

Guided cultural tours of the Grand Mosque

Free cultural tours run every day in English and Arabic, starting from the east side of the mosque. The official FAQ gives their length as 45 to 60 minutes; start times are not published there, so ask at the entrance.

The paid tour of the main prayer hall, AED 30 (≈ $8), is separate from the free cultural tour.

Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for the whole visit, including a tour and time in the courtyards.

How to get to the Grand Mosque from Saadiyat Island

The mosque is 24 km from Saadiyat, about 20 min by taxi. There is no direct bus from the island, so a taxi, Uber or Careem, or a private transfer is the practical choice. The island's beach hotels can order a taxi for you.

• Taxi back. There is a taxi area at the mosque during opening hours. You can also book a taxi through TransAD on 600 535 353 or at transad.ae.
• Driving. Parking is in the south car parks, which are signposted.

A good half-day plan from Saadiyat: the mosque in the morning, then back to the island for the Louvre Abu Dhabi in the afternoon. Or pair the mosque with Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace; see our Qasr Al Watan guide.

Is there a mosque on Saadiyat Island?

Yes. The Imam Al-Tayeb Mosque is part of the Abrahamic Family House in Saadiyat's Cultural District, next to a church and a synagogue. Visits are free with a booked slot.

Getting to the mosque from Dubai and Abu Dhabi city

From Abu Dhabi city. A taxi from downtown is the simplest option. If you prefer public transport, check current city bus routes on the Abu Dhabi Mobility website (admobility.gov.ae).

From Dubai by bus. Intercity buses E100 and E101 run from Dubai to Abu Dhabi's Central Bus Station for AED 25 (≈ $7). From there, take a city bus or a taxi to the mosque.

From Dubai by train. Etihad Rail now links Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but the train stops in Mohamed Bin Zayed City on the edge of the city, not at the mosque. You need a taxi from the station.

Tours from Dubai. Organized day trips from Dubai include the mosque. Coach tours range from about AED 120–460 (≈ $33–125) per adult, depending on the program: a five-hour trip to the mosque only, or a full day that adds the Corniche, Emirates Palace, Qasr Al Watan or the Louvre. Private tours for a small group cost more.

All other ways between the two cities are in Dubai to Abu Dhabi.

What to see inside

The Grand Mosque was built between 1994 and 2007 and opened in December 2007. The complex measures 290 by 420 m, has 82 domes and four minarets about 104 m high, and holds more than 40,000 worshippers. The architect was Yousef Abdelky.

• The courtyard. It covers 17,400 m² and holds up to 31,000 worshippers when full. Its floor is a floral inlay of more than 9 million mosaic pieces in 3,825 panels, designed by the British artist Kevin Dean, with flowers from across the Middle East such as tulips, lilies and irises. The mosque's own site says it may be the largest marble mosaic in the world.
• The main prayer hall. Its carpet covers more than 5,000 m².
• The chandeliers. Seven chandeliers hang in the mosque; the largest is about 10 m across and set with Swarovski crystals.
• The founder's tomb. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding president of the UAE, who died in 2004, is buried on the grounds.

For more of the city's landmarks, see things to do in Abu Dhabi.

Photography and the best views

Photography is allowed only at designated photo stops along the route. Personal photos with a phone or a non-professional camera are fine; commercial and professional photography needs a permit, and the center can confiscate equipment used against the rules.

The best-known views are these:

• The courtyard floor, where the colored marble flowers are inlaid in the white stone.
• The long reflecting pools on the approach, which mirror the domes and minarets. They are at their best around sunset.
• The exterior lighting. After dark, the mosque's lighting follows the phases of the moon: nearly white at the full moon and bluer toward the new moon, according to the lighting designers. That means a visit on a different night looks different.
• The prayer hall chandeliers inside, where photos are allowed only at the marked stops.

Best time to visit

• Season. October to March is the most comfortable time. From May to September temperatures can reach 44°C (111°F), and much of the visit is outdoors.
• Time of day. In the hot months, come at opening time or in the evening. The mosque stays open until 21:00, so you can see it before and after sunset.
• Fridays. The mosque is closed to visitors from 12:00 to 14:30. Plan a morning visit before 11:30 or an afternoon one.

Rules on dress, Ramadan and behavior in the UAE are summarized in our Abu Dhabi travel tips.

Nearby: Wahat Al Karama

Wahat Al Karama ("Oasis of Dignity") is a memorial to the UAE's martyrs, directly across the road from the Grand Mosque on Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street. It covers 46,000 m² and was inaugurated in 2016. The centerpiece, by the British artist Idris Khan, is 31 leaning aluminum-clad tablets; beyond them, the Pavilion of Honour has the names of the fallen engraved on metal panels. The visitor center is open 09:00–19:00. It fits well into a mosque visit: allow about an hour.