Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Mosque named world's 8th top tourist attraction

Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has risen to 8th place globally on Tripadvisor’s 2025 Top Attractions list, climbing two spots from its 2024 ranking. 

 

The ranking places it among the top 1% of attractions worldwide, selected from more than eight million sites reviewed over the past year.

 

The iconic mosque, which attracts more than seven million visitors annually, around 82% from overseas, recorded a 20% increase in footfall in 2024 compared to the previous year, cementing its reputation alongside world icons from Paris to New York City.

 

TripAdvisor’s 2025 global top 10 attractions are:

1. Empire State Building – New York City, USA

2. Eiffel Tower – Paris, France

3. Anne Frank House – Amsterdam, Netherlands

4. Basílica de la Sagrada Familia – Barcelona, Spain

5. Gardens by the Bay – Singapore

6. Duomo di Milano – Milan, Italy

7. Louvre Museum – Paris, France

8. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – Abu Dhabi, UAE

9. Angkor Wat – Siem Reap, Cambodia

10. Vasa Museum – Stockholm, Sweden 

Other notable Gulf entries include the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Fujairah, ranked among the world’s top 10% of landmarks for the first time, just a year after unveiling upgraded visitor facilities. 

 

Dubai’s Burj Khalifa also retained a strong showing in the top 10% globally, with Dubai Mall and Aquaventure Waterpark also featured. Meanwhile, Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi and Burj Al Arab in Dubai ranked among the Middle East’s best-rated experiences.

 

Dr. Yousif Al Obaidli, Director-General of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, described the mosque’s recent global recognition as “the outcome of the centre’s strategic plan, which focuses on enhancing services and delivering exceptional experiences for its guests.”

 

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This achievement comes on the back of significant facility upgrades and new programmes designed to train young Emiratis to lead cultural tours.

 

Visitors can easily spend an entire day immersed in its many attractions, from admiring the breathtaking Islamic architecture — think white marble domes, intricate mosaics, courtyards and reflective pools — to exploring interactive exhibitions or joining guided tours.

 

Tours are available in 14 languages, including sign language, and feature unique experiences such as the Unseen Glimpses tour, a guided journey aboard custom electric club cars that takes guests to areas previously unseen by the public.

 

The visitor centre itself houses exhibition halls, an auditorium and a library, while Souq Al Jami’ offers a lively mix of shops, restaurants and recreational spaces, ensuring every visit is rich, varied and memorable.

 

Abu Dhabi is targeting 9.3 million visitors a year by 2030, supported by new landmarks including Zayed National Museum, set to open in December 2025, as well as the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and the Natural History Museum, also expected to open in the next year. 

 

For more information, visit www.szgmc.gov.ae