Dubai's Jumeirah Mosque open to all

Jumeirah Mosque, situated on Beach Road in Dubai, is arguably the most photographed mosque in the city. Sometimes called the ‘two minaret mosque’, it can even be found on the AED 500 bank note.

The mosque was commissioned by the late ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, in 1975 and completed in 1978.  Built in the medieval Fatimid style popular in Egypt and Syria, the mosque is considered a masterpiece of Islamic architecture.

The dominant filigreed interior central dome is acoustically designed to help carry the voice of the Imam (prayer leader) throughout the prayer hall.  The largely empty interior space, flanked by walls of floral, geometric and calligraphic designs, can accommodate up to 1,300 worshippers. On busy Fridays, it is not unusual to see an overspill into the surrounding areas.

The traditional minarets (meaning lighthouse) are still used by the muathan (the person who sounds the call to prayer, athan or azan) five times a day. Before the advent of electricity and loudspeakers, this call was the only means of directing worshippers to the mosque.
 
Guided tours at the Jumeirah Mosque occur every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday for non-Muslims and are run by volunteers from the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding under their ‘Open Doors, Open Minds’ programme. There are some additional tours held during Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month.

The mosque opened its doors for tours in 1998 and is still only one of five mosques in the country open to non-Muslims.  The Centre designed the tours to promote cross-cultural dialogue and to offer an insight into Islam.  In 2011, more than 27,000 visitors passed through its doors, while many more have viewed its commanding structure from outside.

The tours last about 75 minutes and cost just AED 10. Women are asked to cover their heads with scarves provided and everyone removes their shoes before entering the mosque. 

The guides, two English converts (or ‘reverts’, as new Muslims are called), explain the five pillars of Islam before demonstrating the Muslim prayer. They also highlight the importance of certain dates in the Islamic year and their meaning, as well as the male and female dress code and the role of the Imam.

At the weekly congregational prayers held on Fridays, Imams deliver a sermon known as Khutba. In Dubai, the contents of these sermons are set throughout the year by the Department of Islamic Affairs and approved by the Rulers’ Court before they are delivered. These lectures can range from an in-depth look at passages from the Quran to social issues of the day. Nearly always delivered in Arabic, some are translated into English elsewhere in the city.

Visitors are also informed about the importance of Ramadan; fasting, attending the mosque, reading the Quran, doing good deeds, donating charity and reaching out to the community are core activities during Ramadan.  Iftar (the sunset meal) is served free at the mosque, a common tradition at many of the 700-plus mosques in Dubai.