Five times a day across Dubai, a melodic call echoes the cities. This call to pray is listened to by thousands of people rushing in the nearest mosque minarets. It feels like the city is put on hold for a few minutes. To better understand the Islamic influence on the city, you should definitely visit the Jumeirah Mosque. It is Dubai’s only mosque that is open to non-Muslims.
What makes Jumeirah Mosque special?
The mosque is located on Jumeirah Beach Road in the posh neighbourhood of Jumeirah. It was built back in 1976, and its design is quite multi-cultural. It is carved out of white stone in the medieval Fatimid style of North Africa. While the carved archways and fortress-like crenellations are designed in Middle east style.
As you walk near the mosque, you can notice the pair of minarets that soar above the mosque. It is from this balcony that the muezzin makes his call to prayer each day. As you enter the mosque, you see the massive central dome which is surrounded by four smaller domes, each with their intricate Arabian style stone carvings. While the inside of the dome is decorated by a soothing tone of cream, duck-egg blue, apricot. The brass lanterns add the final finesse to the central prayer hall.
Inside the mosque, there is a thing called Qiblah. This is a semicircular niche in the wall that indicates the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca. It is in this direction that the Imam stands to lead the prayer throughout the day and the rest 1,200 worshippers turn to offer their prayers.
Dress Code in Jumeirah Mosque –
Jumeirah is not a tourist place but a religious mosque and you will only Qiblah given entry if you follow the dress code. Both men and women should cover their knees and shoulders at all times. The clothes should be loose-fitted and non-transparent. Females need to cover their head with a scarf. In case you aren’t dressed according to the code, you can always borrow traditional attire from the mosque.
Clicking Pictures –
No tour is complete without a selfie in the attractions. Jumeirah Mosque is one of the few mosques in UAE where you are allowed to click pictures. This makes the Jumeirah mosque, the most photographed mosque in Dubai.
The Whitewalls makes for an excellent combination with a clear blue sky. The real beauty comes out during sunset when the white stone transforms into a deep blush. Even more magnificent is the nightfall, when the mosque is lit up from below, and this brings all the stone carvings to life.
How can you the Mosque –
The best way to enjoy the Jumeirah Mosque and gain insight into the Islamic faith is by joining the local tour. The tour is run by Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, from Saturday to Thursday at 10 AM. There is no need to book in advance; all you need to do is visit the mosque half-hour early.
The tour will teach you about the Five Pillars of Islam and the Jumeirah Mosque. As a part of SMCCU’s ethos of “Open minds, open doors,” everyone is encouraged to ask a question about Islam and the mosque without any restrictions.
This is a 75-minute tour which costs 25 dirhams and, in the end, you are served with water, the Middle East dates, Arabic style tea, coffee and Emirati pastries. You can also arrange a private tour through the SMCCU.
Other nearby places to visit –
- After your morning tour of Jumeirah Mosque, you can visit the Jumeriah Public Beach. The beach is down the road, and you are allowed to take a dip in the Arabian Gulf.
- After refreshing yourself, a 10-minute walk in the north will land you in the Etihad Museum. This is the place where the United Arab Emirates was born in 1971. In the Union House, the official documents were signed to unify the Arab states.
- If you are interested in shopping for clothes, jewellery, or homeware. Then a 15-minute walk to Comptoir 102, will bring to a hip concept store and café. The place is known for its handcrafted goods and wholesome organic food.
This is everything you need to know before you go to one of the iconic mosques in Dubai – Jumeirah Mosque.
