Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque now charges an entry fee to visitors, ending an era of free access to one of the UAE's most iconic landmarks. According to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, UAE Emirates ID holders will pay Dh5 ($1.35) and tourists Dh10 to enter, while visitors arriving through tour operators pay Dh8. Worshippers continue to enter free of charge, and visitors aged 60 and older, along with children under three, are exempt from the new fees.
Guided cultural tours exploring the mosque's Islamic art and architecture remain free for individuals and groups. Official guides lead 30 to 45-minute sessions Saturday through Sunday at 11am, 1pm and 5pm, with only the 11am and 5pm slots available on Fridays. Visitors can also tour the main prayer hall separately for Dh30.
The centre additionally offers access to its Light & Peace Museum and Diya, a 360-degree immersive experience, each priced at Dh25, or Dh40 for a combined ticket.
The mosque, built between 1996 and 2007 as a vision of UAE Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, welcomed more than 3.1 million guests in the first half of this year, according to state media outlet Wam. Of these, 78 percent came from outside the UAE, with Asia accounting for 52 percent of visitors and India ranking as the top country of origin, followed by China, Russia, the US and Germany.
Visitors must still follow the mosque's modest dress code, and the centre no longer lends free abayas, though one can be purchased for Dh45 nearby at Souq Al Jami.