Abu Dhabi Announces New Entry Fees For Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Starting September 2026, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre has started an entry fee system for visitors in Abu Dhabi. UAE residents with a valid Emirates ID must pay an entry fee of AED 5 per person. International tourists pay AED 10, and groups arriving through licensed tour operators pay AED 8 per person. Entry stays free for worshippers coming for salah, visitors aged 60 and older, children under three, and people of determination. The Centre recorded over 3.12 million guests in the first half of 2026, which included 1.24 million sightseeing visitors. The Centre stated that the fees act as a sustainability measure to manage visitor numbers and maintain the facility. Worshipper pathways stay separate from tourist routes, and people entering for religious purposes do not pay the fee unless they choose the full sightseeing circuit.
Ticket Booking And Timings
To manage attendance, the Centre requires visitors to book tickets in advance through the official website, szgmc.gov.ae, up to one month ahead of the visit. Walk-up ticket availability is limited. Sightseeing hours run from Saturday to Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tourist access pauses during Friday prayer times. Free 30- to 45-minute cultural walking tours are available at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. from Saturday through Thursday. Access to the Light & Peace Museum and the Diya 360-degree experience costs an additional AED 25 for each attraction or AED 40 for a combined ticket.
Dress Code And Rules
Visitors must continue to follow the dress code, which requires modest, long clothing for men and abayas with headscarves for women. These items stay available for free at the entrance. Photography is permitted in most outdoor and courtyard areas, but restrictions apply inside the main prayer hall during prayer times. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre and associated announcements released between September 17 and September 19, 2026, confirmed these changes.