You will find mosques every few hundred meters in Dubai. But among these numerous mosques, the Jumeirah mosque stands out for several reasons.
It is among the few mosques that are open for non-Muslims to visit. It is also the most beautiful Mosque in the emirate. To understand this Mosque’s significance in the UAE’s culture, look at the fact that it is featured 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. None of them are inhabited, though. But these houses remind us of Dubai’s recent past, mainly consisting 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 the old Dubai, the month of them who came and settled in Jumeirah was the western ex-pats. They came here as a part of the rapid expansion projects in Dubai that multinational companies undertook. On the other hand, the early settlers of Old Dubai were from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh and were small traders and laborers.
It also made sense to build a luxury resort near the sea to accommodate those in the emirate for offshore oil exploration. Building such a hotel was a significant undertaking in Dubai up until that time.
For quite a long time, Jumeirah was known by the name Chicago Beach after the Chicago Beach Hotel, which once was nearby. The hotel and the Mosque were the only modern structures on the beach at those times. The hotel predated the Mosque by two years.
In those times, 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 took up the contract to carry out the work of the oil rig and all other facilities it required. 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 and was not far away 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 is built following a Fatimid style from 9th century Egypt. The two minarets also contribute in the same manner.
Jumeirah Mosque is said to be the most photographed Mosque in Dubai. One of the reasons 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 on them.
Like the exterior, the interior of the Mosque displays elegant craftsmanship. The use of multicolored marble stones and the quranic verses engraved with shaped stones (instead of painting like they are usually done) are some of which are worth mentioning.
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. The benefit of having a guided Dubai city tour is that you get to know everything firsthand from an expert. The mosque tour is carried out under Sheikh Muhammad Centre for Cultural Understanding, an initiative by the ruler of Dubai to aid the communication and understanding between the 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
The guided tour to the Jumeirah mosque is more than just a sightseeing experience. They let you learn more about the religious aspect of the Mosque 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 founded the organization, Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum 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 from the majlis area, where the host gives a basic introduction to 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 done.
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. This Mosque dates back to 1986.
It stands out from the rest of the mosques in Dubai, with numerous domes and minarets. The walls of the Mosque are white, and the domes are blue. The largest among these domes is 30 meters above the floor.
The interior of the Mosque rival the outer beauty of the Mosque in every sense. The stained glasses of different colors and styles add quite a unique look to the interiors. During day time, there was enough natural light inside the Mosque to save electricity.