A GLOBAL INTELLECTUAL PLATFORM FOR TOLERANCE AND A LEADING CULTURAL DESTINATION

SHEIKH ZAYED GRAND MOSQUE

 ATTRACTS 6.6M WORSHIPERS AND VISITORS DURING The YEAR OF TOLERANCE 2019

SZGMC AbuDhabi,29-02-2020.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre (SZGMC) intensified efforts and reinforced the Mosque's position as a global intellectual platform for tolerance and a leading cultural destination during the Year of Tolerance; Where last year (2019) Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque received 6,656,818 visitors. The tally includes 1,562,149 worshipers, 4,132,309 visitors, 891,860 fasting guests, and 70,500 recipients of weekly charitable meals.

The Mosque witnessed a massive turnover of visitors from all continents of the world, with Asia in the lead reaching 2,329,903 visitors, followed by Europe 1,276,024 North America with 216,528 Africa with 138,045, and South America with 106,521 while visitors from Australia reached 59,646 and Antarctica 5,642.

Nationality-wise, 249 nationalities visited the Mosque, with India topping the list of the ten top countries most present at the Mosque in 2019 with a tally of 879,049 followed by China with 704,680 Russia with 234,849, Germany with 193,234 and France with 155,223. While visitors from the United Kingdom reached 144,223, Pakistan 140,977, the United States 132,262, the Philippines 104,502, and Italy 91,200, all welcomed in an atmosphere of tolerance that reflected the noble values engrained by the late founding father, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, within the UAE's community.

Also, the number of individual visitors reached 2,640,877, and the total visitors within tourist groups amounted to 1,466,545. Besides, visitors from government institutions reached 9,783 and from educational institutions 11,111 visitors. The Mosque also welcomed 2,270 visitors from various embassies within the UAE as well as a total number of 1,723 visitors from both Private and Hospitality sectors.

The fourth week of December witnessed a significant increase in the number of guests visiting the Mosque at day time, with December 27 registering the highest footprint, with 36,977 worshipers and visitors. Whereas during peak hours between 4:00 pm 7:00 pm the number of visitors amounted to more than 9,400.

During the past year 2019, the percentage of the Mosque's guests ranged between 81% tourists and 19% UAE residents. Men were the most frequent visitors to the Mosque, accounting for 53% of the total tally, whereas women accounted for 47%. Most visitors came from the age group between 25 and 35 years of various nationalities, constituting 30% of all visitors.

The total number of vehicles that used the Mosque's parking lots during the past year amounted to 1,565,034 vehicles, including 1,184,425 private vehicles, about 273,382 taxis, and about 75,004 Tour Operator buses whereas the total of public transportation buses amounted to about 21,246, the Big Bus 5,543 buses, and the airport buses that transported visitors to the Mosque 5,434 buses.

Throughout the past year, the Centre also provided 3,549 guided cultural tours, led by a number of qualified Emirati cultural tour specialists, who proudly represented a bright image of their country. As the number of visitors who joined public cultural tours reached 66,302 visitors, and those who used the e-guide service reached 30,912 visitors- This service uses an e-device that allows the visitor to listen to an elaborate brief about the Mosque's intriguing aesthetic features of art and architecture, that enhances visitors experience in 11 languages -.

The outstanding Islamic architecture of the Mosque, as well as its prominent role as a leading global cultural platform last year, attracted many renowned local and international media.SZGMC received over 149 media requests, with Abu Dhabi TV, Dubai TV, Sama Dubai, Majid, Al Ittihad, Al Khaleej, Al Roya, Al Ain news, 24 news, The National, Gulf News and Gulf Times, amongst the leading local media.

While CNN, ABC, CNBC, Russia Today, Official Belgian TV, German TV, Australian Channel 7, Egyptian TV, British University of Oxford, and Egyptian newspaper Al-Youm Al-Sabah, were amongst the leading international media. Such coverage from leading media outlets played a vital role in conveying the Mosque's vision and mission that aims to promote tolerance and noble human values worldwide.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center, under the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, is sponsored and monitored by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs was established to be the Center of the cultural and intellectual movement focused around the cultural and national values of Emirati community, and also assume its role in reviving its rich legacy.