Free buses to Grand Mosque during last 10 days of Ramadan

abu dhabi — The Department of Transport (DoT) Abu Dhabi has announced that it will be providing free transport services for worshippers to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque during the last 10 days of the holy month of Ramadan.

The free buses departing from Wahat Al Karama parking area, which is located just adjacent to the grand mosque, will be commuting worshippers to and from the mosque’s passengers dropping area every five minutes from 11pm until 3am. The free transport service is part of the DoT’s charitable initiatives during the holy month of Ramadan and to mark the Year of Zayed.

“The aim of the service is to offer easy transport for worshippers

Thousands of people visit the mosque and unless you come really early, it is impossible to find parking.” A DoT official

coming to attend the Tahajjud (late night prayer). Many people find it difficult to get parking spaces inside the mosque’s parking lots, because of the rush at night, especially during the last 10 days of Ramadan,” a DoT official told Khaleej Times.

Policemen are stationed at the mosque during night time to guide worshippers and help control the traffic.

When the mosque parking lots are full, worshippers who come late for the prayers are diverted to the parking lot at the Wahat Al Karama. The worshippers then have to walk a long distance to the mosque. The bus services will avoid such difficulties, said the official.

“It is good news,” said Mohammed Hassan, an Egyptian worshipper attending night prayers at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque daily.

“Thousands of people visit the mosque and unless you come really early, it is impossible to find parking.”

Every year, the Grand mosque welcomes several renowned imams and reciters of the Holy Quran to lead the worshippers during Taraweeh and Tahajjud prayers throughout the entire Ramadan period. The imams — including Idrees Akbar, the official imam of the Grand Mosque, take turns in leading the night prayers.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com