President Donald Trump Visits Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed
On Thursday evening, as his first official activity after arriving in Abu Dhabi, U.S. President Donald Trump visited the historic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
President Trump toured the mosque alongside Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed. Guiding the visit were the Director of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Yousif Al Obaidli, and Amina Al Hammadi, Acting Director of the Department of Culture and Knowledge.
Inaugurated in 2007, this iconic mosque is located at a key junction connecting Abu Dhabi’s main island with the mainland. Its architectural design reflects the UAE’s geographic position as a bridge between East and West.
The mosque’s design incorporates a blend of cultural influences from across the Islamic world—featuring Moorish arches, Mughal-style domes, Persian-inspired courtyards, and Ottoman minarets.
Construction materials for the mosque were sourced from various countries including Italy, Germany, Morocco, Macedonia, India, Turkey, China, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Greece, and the UAE.
Although a significant cultural and tourist attraction, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque functions primarily as a place of worship. It hosts the five daily prayers, along with weekly Friday congregations and major religious events during Ramadan and Eid.
More than 5 million people visit the mosque each year, including 2.2 million worshippers. While the mosque can accommodate 40,000 people, a record attendance of 72,533 worshippers was recorded on the 27th night of Ramadan this year.
In 2024, a total of 6.58 million people visited the mosque, with around 617,000 worshippers attending during Ramadan and Eid alone.
Upon President Trump’s arrival in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, he was officially welcomed by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed. At the presidential airport, he was received by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, as well as Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed.
Other dignitaries present included Presidential Advisor Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad, Chairman of Strategic Affairs at the President's Office Dr. Ahmed Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority Khaldoon Al Mubarak, UAE Ambassador to the U.S. Yousef Al Otaiba, and several other high-ranking officials.
