Grand Mosque tickets & hours

How much is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque entry fee in 2026?

AED 10 for tourists, AED 5 for Emirates ID holders and AED 8 per person for visitors who come with a tour operator.

The fees are listed in the official FAQ. At the fixed rate of 3.67 dirhams to the dollar, AED 10 is about $2.70, so this is a token charge, not a reason to skip the visit. No exact start date was published; the fee appeared in September 2026 and was reported on 17 September by Khaleej Times and others.

Who can visit the Grand Mosque for free?

Worshippers, visitors over 60, children under 3 and people of determination. The guided cultural tour is free for everyone who has entered.

Gulf News lists the exemptions: worshippers, anyone above 60, children under three and people of determination. Bring a passport or ID that shows your age if you are claiming the over-60 exemption. A family of two adults and a toddler pays AED 20 in total.

Coming to pray? You don't need a visitor pass at all. Worshippers walk in through the prayer entrances at prayer times, and the fee does not apply to them.

How do I book a Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque visitor pass?

Book the free access pass on szgmc.gov.ae, up to one month before your visit, or register at the mosque on the day. On a tour, the operator registers you.

The visitor page asks every non-worshipper to "pre-book the visit and obtain an online access pass". The form is short:

1. Open the individual booking page and choose the general visit.
2. Pick your date and time slot. Slots open one month ahead.
3. Add the number of visitors (the form takes 1 to 10), with residency status and nationality.
4. Pay the entry fee where it applies and keep the confirmation on your phone.

Private cultural tours booked through the same portal need at least 24 hours' notice. On-site registration exists, but a booked pass is the calmer option on Fridays and in the cool season, when the queues are long.

On a group day trip you skip all of this: the operator registers the group and pays the AED 8 rate. The mosque, palace and tower day from Dubai lists the mosque ticket as included.

What are the Grand Mosque opening hours?

Saturday to Thursday 9 am to 8:30 pm, last entry 8 pm. Friday 9 to 11:30 am and 2:30 to 8:30 pm, closed to visitors over the midday prayer.

These are the hours on the official visiting hours page. Some tour listings and older travel blogs still say 10 pm. That was the old schedule: plan on 8 pm as the last way in.

Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February 2027, subject to the moon sighting. The best time to visit guide covers Ramadan visits and the busiest hours.

Is the cultural tour at the Grand Mosque still free?

Yes. The 30 to 45-minute guided cultural tour by SZGMC specialists is free, in English and Arabic, several times a day.

The cultural tours page gives the times below. Meet at the tour start point on the east side of the mosque, and the FAQ asks you to arrive 15 minutes early. You still need your access pass to get in.

The centre also runs "Unseen Glimpses" tours at 10 am, noon, 2, 4, 6 and 8 pm, and private cultural tours that you book at least a day ahead on the same portal. The 5 pm free tour is the one to aim for in winter: you finish as the light turns gold.

What do the Light & Peace Museum and Diya cost?

AED 25 each, or AED 40 for both. They are optional extras on top of the AED 10 entry.

The National and Khaleej Times give the same prices: the Light & Peace Museum costs AED 25, Diya, a 360-degree light experience, costs AED 25, and a combined ticket costs AED 40.

• The Light & Peace Museum tells the story of the building and of Islamic art. Good on a hot afternoon.
• Diya is short and immersive. Worth it with children.
• Sura night tours run in a separate 9 pm to 9 am window and need their own booking on szgmc.gov.ae.
• The lunar light show is a five-minute display about the phases of the moon, staged on set evenings. The Hijri New Year show on 11 October 2026 ran at five times from 8 pm and was priced like the entry fee (Khaleej Times).

Day tours from Dubai rarely leave time for the museum. If it matters to you, go independently or book a private car.

Two full hours at the mosque, enough for the courtyard, the prayer hall and the reflecting pools, then two hours at the Louvre. Mosque tickets included.

★ 4.9 · 9 hours · from $101

Explore the mosque and Louvre day tour → Tour details

Which Grand Mosque tours include the entry ticket?

The listings that name the mosque entry ticket include it. On the others, the AED 8 is small, but check at booking.

Here is what each tour's own inclusions list says, checked in October 2026:

On a budget day, the mosque is one stop among many, with shops in between. On the mosque-only half day, it is the whole point.

How long should I plan, and what can close the mosque?

Plan on 1 to 2 hours inside. The mosque can close to tourists at short notice for state events.

Thirty to 45 minutes covers the cultural tour; add time for the main prayer hall, the courtyard and photos at the pools. With the museum, budget three hours.

Closures happen. One operator warns that the mosque closes to tourists on certain dates, "usually communicated by the authorities only a few days" ahead. Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace on many day tours, can shut without notice for presidential events. Every tour here cancels free up to 24 hours before, and operators offer a new date or a refund if the site closes.

Before you go, read the Grand Mosque dress code: clothing, not the ticket, is what turns visitors away at the gate.

Frequently asked questions