How Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque's Mass Iftar Began With Passing Of Founding Father

2026-03-09 07:11:10

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

Over the years, the initiative expanded beyond Abu Dhabi to Al Ain and Suwayhan, and the numbers climbed dramatically

Every Ramadan, tens of thousands of faithful gather at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque to break their fast together in what is considered the biggest mass iftar in the UAE. But the story of how it all started is one that few who attend today are aware of, and it began not with a formal plan, but with grief.

According to the documentary series Erth Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi media, the initiative dates back to the day the UAE's founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, passed away. It was the month of Ramadan, and the mosque bearing his name was still under construction.

Caravans at the graveside

Recommended For You UAE changes warning system, issues 'quieter' alerts amid regional attacks

When Sheikh Zayed passed, close relatives and those near to him could not bring themselves to leave the burial site. Caravans were set up on the grounds, and people slept there, staying beside the grave in those first days as an expression of their deep grief.

Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp channels.

Major General (Retd) Mohammed Hilal Al Kaabi, Chairman of Erth Abu Dhabi, recalls:“Sheikh Zayed Mosque was not yet ready. We were working on the pipes and even Sheikh Mohammed, may God protect him, was with us working. We were all working together.”

Ramadan prayer timings

The crowds that gathered were immense.“The amount of grief, the tears that were flowing from people; I am not talking about leaders, I am talking about ordinary people,” Mohammed Atta, Head of Logistics and Distribution, Erth Abu Dhabi, said.“Every one of us truly felt that we had lost a father.” The area filled with Quran recitation, prayers, and the kind of spiritual atmosphere that accompanies profound loss.

The 24th of Ramadan, 2004

It was the 19th of Ramadan, 2004, when Sheikh Zayed passed away. It was the 24th of Ramadan, 2004, when the directions came - the location had been prepared and the first iftar for those fasting was served at the mosque while construction was still ongoing around them.

The Armed Forces Officers Club in Abu Dhabi supplied the iftar meals, a role that the institution continued to fulfil in the years that followed, with its kitchens staffed by hundreds of chefs, stewards, and support personnel working to feed the growing numbers of worshippers each evening.

From 300 to 2.6 million meals

What started as a modest effort of around 300 to 400 meals grew steadily into a much larger undertaking. Over the years, the initiative expanded beyond Abu Dhabi to Al Ain and Suwayhan, and the numbers climbed dramatically.

“We started with around 300 to 400 meals,” Major General (Retd) Mohammed Hilal Al Kaabi said.“And we reached two million, six hundred thousand meals.”

Khaleej Times, which was given access to the kitchens behind the operation, reported in February 2026 that up to 95,000 iftar meals are now prepared every single day, contributing to a total of 2.66 million meals throughout the holy month.

The meals are distributed not only at the Grand Mosque but also at Sheikh Khalifa Mosque and various labour accommodations across Abu Dhabi. More than 2,000 personnel are involved in the daily operation, supported by a fleet of 150 trucks that dispatch meals across the emirate before Maghrib each evening.