The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is open to visitors every day from 9 am to 8:30 pm (last entry 8 pm), with a break on Fridays from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. Visits must be booked in advance on the official website of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, which issues an online access pass; according to its FAQ, entry costs AED 10 for visitors coming from abroad. Covering clothing is required, with a headscarf for women. This page sets out the official rules recorded on 24 October 2026, the free guided tours and a table that cross-references opening hours and sunset.
For the rest of your stay, see our guide to visiting Abu Dhabi, our guide to the Louvre Abu Dhabi and our comparison Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
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Sheikh Zayed Mosque: key facts
- Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday 9 am – 8:30 pm (last entry 8 pm); Friday 9 am – 11:30 am (last entry 11 am) and 2:30 pm – 8:30 pm (last entry 8 pm)
- Ramadan: reduced hours (see below)
- Booking: required for visitors, online access pass; worshippers coming to pray enter without a ticket
- Price: AED 10 for visitors coming from abroad, AED 5 for Emirates ID holders, AED 8 through a tour operator
- Guided tours: free, in English and Arabic, departing from the east side
- Source: checked 24 October 2026 on szgmc.gov.ae (FAQ, opening hours, cultural tours, code of conduct)
Official opening hours
| Period | Days | Visiting hours | Last entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| All year | Saturday to Thursday | 9 am – 8:30 pm | 8 pm |
| All year | Friday | 9 am – 11:30 am and 2:30 pm – 8:30 pm | 11 am and 8 pm |
| Ramadan, first 20 days | Every day except Friday | 9 am – 6 pm and 9:30 pm – 1 am | not stated |
| Ramadan, first 20 days | Friday | 2:30 pm – 6 pm and 9:30 pm – 1 am | not stated |
| Ramadan, last 10 days | Every day except Friday | 9 am – 6 pm | not stated |
| Ramadan, last 10 days | Friday | 2:30 pm – 6 pm | not stated |
Booking your visit: the official pass
The official site states it at the top of each page: worshippers can enter directly without a ticket; visitors must book their visit and obtain an online access pass, using the « Book your visit » button. The FAQ gives the entry fees: AED 10 for visitors coming from outside the Emirates, AED 5 for Emirates ID holders, AED 8 for visitors going through a tour operator; for official delegations, the amount depends on the organization.
Beware of sites selling « tickets » or « skip-the-line access » to the mosque: the official pass is booked on szgmc.gov.ae. Agencies mostly sell excursions (transport, guide), whose price includes those services.
The free cultural tours
The Centre offers free guided tours every day, led by its specialists, on the mosque’s architecture and Islamic culture. They start from the east side of the mosque; arrive about 15 minutes before. The cultural tours page gives a duration of 30 to 45 minutes (the FAQ also cites 45 to 60 minutes), in English and Arabic only.
| Days | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday to Sunday (except Friday) | 11 am | 1 pm | 5 pm |
| Friday | 11 am | none | 5 pm |
Dress code and rules of conduct
The visitor code of conduct asks for modest dress in keeping with Emirati traditions, with no flashy jewelry, heavy makeup or bright colors, and no clothing with slogans or drawings.
- Women: loose clothing down to the ankles, sleeves to the wrists, hair fully covered; nothing transparent, tight or low-cut.
- Men: legs covered preferably; nothing transparent, tight or sleeveless.
- Not allowed: flammable items, e-cigarettes, lighters, sharp objects, whistles, lasers, loudspeakers, dolls and stuffed toys, flags and symbols, food and drink (except water, according to the code of conduct), cigarettes, displays of affection.
- Behavior: low voices, phone on silent; photos and videos allowed for personal use at the designated photo spots.
- Screening: security check at the entrance, with separate lines for men and women.
The FAQ and the code of conduct differ on water: the FAQ explains that food and drink, « even water », are banned to protect the marble and carpets, whereas the code of conduct excludes water from the ban. If in doubt, keep your bottle closed in your bag.
The mosque in numbers
According to Wikipedia, construction lasted from 1995 to 2007, and the first major prayer took place on 19 December 2007. The mosque can hold up to 40,000 worshippers. It has 82 domes, the main one rising to 85 meters (279 ft), and four minarets of 107 meters (351 ft). The carpet of the main prayer hall covers 5,627 m² (about 60,600 sq ft), and the largest chandelier measures 10 meters (33 ft) in diameter. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the Emirates, who died in 2004, is buried on the grounds.
Getting there, including from Dubai
According to the official site, the mosque is located between the three bridges that link Abu Dhabi island to the mainland (Maqta, Mussafah and Sheikh Zayed); entry is through Gate 6 (Al Salam). The Centre does not provide transport: you come by taxi, bus or car. A taxi zone operates during opening hours; TransAD (Abu Dhabi taxis) takes bookings on 600535353. The Abu Dhabi Department of Transport serves the mosque by bus, with a stop nearby, and the Department of Culture and Tourism offers free shuttles. A shuttle also links the mosque and Wahat Al Karama every 30 minutes, from 10 am to 7:15 pm. The car parks are to the south.
Booking an excursion from Dubai
Many visitors stay in Dubai and do the mosque in a day trip to Abu Dhabi. If you go through an agency, check: whether the official pass and entry fees are included or on you, the planned arrival time against the opening hours (watch Friday midday), the time spent on site, the other stops (Louvre Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Watan), the guide’s language and the provider’s insurance.
Sunset and opening hours: the table
The mosque is heavily photographed late in the day, when the white marble changes color, then at night, when the lighting takes over. The table cross-references sunset, calculated for the 15th of each month, and the last entry time (8 pm outside Ramadan): the last column shows the time available between sunset and last entry.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Sunset → last entry (8 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:07 am | 5:55 pm | 10 h 47 min | 2 h 05 min |
| February | 6:56 am | 6:16 pm | 11 h 21 min | 1 h 43 min |
| March | 6:31 am | 6:30 pm | 11 h 59 min | 1 h 29 min |
| April | 6:00 am | 6:43 pm | 12 h 43 min | 1 h 16 min |
| May | 5:39 am | 6:58 pm | 13 h 19 min | 1 h 02 min |
| June | 5:33 am | 7:11 pm | 13 h 38 min | 0 h 48 min |
| July | 5:42 am | 7:13 pm | 13 h 31 min | 0 h 47 min |
| August | 5:56 am | 6:56 pm | 13 h 00 min | 1 h 04 min |
| September | 6:08 am | 6:26 pm | 12 h 18 min | 1 h 34 min |
| October | 6:19 am | 5:55 pm | 11 h 36 min | 2 h 04 min |
| November | 6:37 am | 5:35 pm | 10 h 58 min | 2 h 24 min |
| December | 6:57 am | 5:36 pm | 10 h 38 min | 2 h 24 min |
How to read it: from September to April, there is more than an hour between sunset and the 8 pm last entry; in June and July, the margin falls below 50 minutes. Book a slot that gets you in before sunset to see both moods. For heat and the best season, see our page on the best time to visit Dubai, which also applies to Abu Dhabi.
Entry requirements
See entry requirements for the United Arab Emirates for passport, visa and safety information.
Common mistakes
- Arriving on Friday between 11:30 am and 2:30 pm: the mosque is closed to visitors during prayer.
- Turning up without a booking: the online pass is required for visitors.
- Paying for a « skip-the-line ticket » on an unofficial site.
- Wearing short or tight clothing, or no headscarf for women.
- Bringing a stuffed toy, flag, e-cigarette or lighter: they are not allowed.
Frequently asked questions
Is a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque free?
Not for visitors coming from abroad: the official FAQ gives AED 10 (AED 5 with an Emirates ID, AED 8 through a tour operator). The guided cultural tours, however, are free, and worshippers coming to pray enter without a ticket.
Do you need to book?
Yes: the official site asks visitors to book and obtain an online access pass.
What are the opening hours?
Saturday to Thursday from 9 am to 8:30 pm, last entry 8 pm; Friday from 9 am to 11:30 am and from 2:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Reduced hours during Ramadan.
What should you wear?
Loose clothing down to the ankles; for women, sleeves to the wrists and hair covered. No transparent, tight or sleeveless clothing.
Are there guided tours in languages other than English and Arabic?
No: the free cultural tours are in English and Arabic only, according to the official FAQ.
Can you visit from Dubai?
Yes, on an organized excursion, by taxi or by bus to Abu Dhabi; check that your arrival falls within opening hours and that the pass is booked.
Our sources
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre (szgmc.gov.ae): « FAQs », « Visiting Hours », « Cultural Tours », « Mosque Manners », « Getting to the Mosque » and « Transportation » pages, consulted on 24 October 2026
- Wikipedia, « Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque » article, consulted on 24 October 2026
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm, applied by Destination de Voyage to the coordinates of the mosque (SZGMC) (15th of each month, year 2027, clear horizon)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices, hours and access rules may change: check the official website before you go.
