Dubai has mosques every few hundred meters. However, the Jumeirah mosque stands out for several reasons. It is among the few mosques open to non-Muslims and the most beautiful Mosque in the emirate. To understand its significance in the UAE’s culture, consider its features on the 500 Dhs currency note.
History of the Jumeirah Mosque
The Jumeirah mosque was built in 1979 when Dubai started sprawling towards the nether regions of the desert. But Jumeirah wasn’t a deserted place in the first place. It was inhabited mainly by Arab fishermen and pear hunters. A few of their old houses are still around to this day, though none of them are inhabited. These houses remind us of Dubai’s recent past, which mainly consisted of fishing hamlets.
As Dubai grew with its newfound wealth, the only practical direction for the city to expand was towards the south, as the old part of the city was already saturated with residential buildings.
Unlike in old Dubai, most of those who came and settled in Jumeirah were Western expats. They came here as part of the rapid expansion projects that multinational companies undertook in Dubai. On the other hand, the early settlers of Old Dubai were small traders and laborers from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Building a luxury resort near the sea also made sense to accommodate those in the emirate for offshore oil exploration. Building such a hotel was a significant undertaking in Dubai until then.
For quite a long time, Jumeirah was known as Chicago Beach after the Chicago Beach Hotel, which once was nearby. The hotel and the Mosque were the only modern structures on the beach then. The hotel predated the Mosque by two years.
In those days, there was a reason for building a hotel far away from central Dubai. Following the discovery of the first offshore oil well in Dubai, Chicago Bridge and Iron Company signed a contract to carry out the work of the oil rig and all other required facilities. The Chicago Beach Hotel, named after the contracting company, was built close to the oil site.
After setting up the oil extraction plant and the underwater storage tanks, another residential area was needed to accommodate the expatriate workforce in the oil industry. This residential district was called the Chicago Beach Village, far from the original beach hotel. The Jumeirah Mosque was also built at the same time.
The architecture of the Jumeirah Mosque
Another thing that makes the Jumeirah mosque different from other mosques in Dubai is its distinctive architecture. The Mosque was built in the Fatimid style of 9th-century Egypt, and the two minarets contributed in the same manner.
Jumeirah Mosque is said to be the most photographed Mosque in Dubai. One reason for that title is the thousands of tourists who visit the Mosque every month. Another reason is the immaculate beauty of the marble mosque. The noticeably large dome of the Mosque has intricate detailing.
Like the exterior, the interior of the Mosque displays elegant craftsmanship. Some examples are the use of multicolored marble stones and the Quranic verses engraved with shaped stones (instead of painting like they are usually done).
Although the chandeliers in this Mosque won’t amaze anyone, as there are newer and bigger mosques in Dubai with more magnificent chandeliers, those in Jumeirah Mosque would have riveted many eyes upwards at the dome when it was built.
Jumeirah Mosque Tour
A tour of the Mosque is your chance to get to know Dubai’s culture, history, and heritage up close. A guided Dubai city tour allows you to learn everything firsthand from an expert. The mosque tour is carried out under the Sheikh Muhammad Centre for Cultural Understanding, an initiative by the ruler of Dubai to aid communication and understanding between cultures.
It is a perfect opportunity to ask the emiratis why they dress the way they do, or why they greet in a particular way, etc., without offending anybody. You will also learn more about Islam, which has been part of the native people’s lives for centuries.
The tour also comes with a cultural dining experience. The mosque tour offers all its guests a cultural breakfast. This is a rare opportunity to relish the taste of authentic Emirati dishes replete with classic silverware and Arabic coffee. There are a lot more exciting places to visit in Dubai.
Dress Code while visiting the Grand Mosque
Visitors should wear modest clothing inside the mosque premises. Women should cover the entire body except for the forehands and face, while men shouldn’t wear trousers shorter than the knee and cover the upper body.
Guided tours in the Mosque
A guided tour of the Jumeirah mosque is more than just a sightseeing experience. It lets you learn more about the mosque’s religious aspect and the history and impact of Islam in the Emirates.
You will also get a firsthand understanding of the religion and the prayer rituals carried out five times daily in the Mosque.
SMCUU operates guided tours with the slogan ‘Open doors, open minds. ‘ The ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, founded the organization to increase understanding and tolerance between cultures and traditions.
Those who want to participate in the tour must register at least 30 minutes before the tour.
Mosque tour timings: There are guided tours every day starting from 10 AM except Fridays.
The tour starts in the Majlis area, where the host briefly introduces everything. Here, you can enjoy traditional Emirati refreshments like Arabic coffee and tea. Afterward, you will see the different areas of the Mosque where purification and prayers are performed.
In the final part of the tour, guests can ask the host questions about the local religion and culture without offending anyone and get proper and precise answers.
Other Mosques in Dubai Where Non-Muslims Can Visit
Al Farooq mosque
This Mosque is deeply reminiscent of the Blue Mosque in Turkey. Although not as large as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Turkey ( the Blue Mosque), the Al Farooq mosque is also an architectural masterpiece. It dates back to 1986.
It stands out from the rest of the mosques in Dubai, with numerous domes and minarets. The mosque’s walls are white, and the domes are blue. The largest of these domes is 30 meters above the floor.
The interior of the Mosque rivals its outer beauty in every sense. The stained glass windows of different colors and styles add quite a unique look to the interiors. During the daytime, the Mosque has enough natural light to save electricity.