Dubai is famous for its many mosques, among which the Jumeirah Mosque is especially interesting. The country’s largest building of worship, a beautiful example of Arabic religious architecture, generously decorated with calligraphic writing. This one of the few Emirati mosques open to non-Muslims. Largely due to the Intercultural Communication Center located here under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed.
In Dubai’s first Jumeirah area, the Dubai Grand Mosque. Known as the Abu Manartain Mosque, built in 1975 at the expense of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
History
The construction of the Jumeirah Mosque began in 1975 and lasted for 4 years. The project and construction of the temple supported by Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The creation of a mosque that can visited by adherents of other religions. The main idea of the sheikh and under his leadership in 1998 the Sheikh Mohammed Center. For Cultural Understanding organized, which began to conduct excursions for non-Muslims. Later, the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi. The Al Farouk Umar ibn Khattab Mosque in Dubai opened for free visits.
Architectural features of the Jumeirah Mosque in Dubai
The official opening of the new religious center took place in November 1979. According to the project, the Jumeirah Mosque made of modern materials in the classical style of the X-XII centuries. As a model, the medieval temples of the Fatimids taken. The Arab state ruling on the territory of Palestine, Egypt and Syria.
The mosque, built entirely of white stone, is a large hall that can accommodate up to 1300 people. The prayer hall of the Jumeirah Mosque, made in the traditional hypostyle style, is a large room. With rows of columns that support the roof of the building. Opposite the main entrance to the hall is the wall of the qibla. By which Muslims determine the location of the Kaaba.
The architectural complex also includes two tall minarets that frame the imposing central dome of the mosque. In accordance with the Islamic canon. It prohibits the use of images of people and animals as decorations. The walls of the Jumeirah Mosque decorated with complex geometric ornaments. With elements of Arabic script in the men’s hall and floral patterns in the women’s hall.
Construction of Jumeirah Mosque
The mosque, which can accommodate about 1300 worshippers, built in the Fatimid style in mosque architecture. A style in which unique architectural phenomena such as the use of carved stone. First appeared in the facades of mosques instead of bricks. Then decorated these facades with various engraved decorations.
Jumeirah Mosque made of sandstone. Some sites and some guidebooks claim that the prototype of it was the Mosque of Muhammad Ali in Cairo, but this is definitely not true. The fact is that the Muhammad Ali Mosque is clearly in the Ottoman style, and the Jumeirah Mosque is in the Fatimid style. Rather, the prototype could serve as the al-Azhar mosque – the main masterpiece of Fatimid architecture.
The Fatimid style distinguished by slender forms, which clearly seen in the example of the Jumeirah Mosque, and the Ottoman style is wide domes and a large number of them.
The building makes the strongest impression when viewed up close. It seems that the minarets soar into the sky and touch the tops of the clouds. Pay attention to another feature – the lower part of the minarets is square in cross-section, this is one of the features of the style of mosques in North Africa, where the fatimid caliphs come from.
After visiting the mosque, you can stroll through the adjacent garden and see a small exposition at the Sheikh Mohammed Center for Culture and Understanding.
How to get there
Within walking distance from the Jumeirah Mosque there are public transport stops: “Jumeira, Grand Masjid”, where buses No. 8, 9, C10, X28 and “Palm Strip Center” stop, where route no. 88 runs.
To call a taxi, use the mobile application Careem, Uber, Smart Taxi, RTA Dubai.
Tips for tourists
– Tourists recommended to come on an excursion from Monday to Thursday. These are definitely not weekends, there will be a minimum of visitors from local residents. We highly do NOT recommend coming on Saturday.
– If you get hungry after the tour, then go through the parking lot and further along Jumeirah Street. On the way you will find a dozen cafes and restaurants, including the familiar to Russians TGI Fridays. After 300 meters from the mosque there will be a Spinneys supermarket;
– Parking is the best local landmark. See the photo below, click on the photo to enlarge. Registration for the tour carried out from the opposite side of the mosque building from the parking lot. If you look from an angle as in the photo, the beach to the left, the city center of Dubai and the metro to the right;
– If you go in the opposite direction along Jumeirah Street, then after 2 kilometers there will be the Commonwealth Museum and the famous flagpole;
– During a snack before the tour, do not take dates and sweets with you. This table is a sign of hospitality, taking something from the table with you is a terrible disrespect for the owner of the house;
– When the guide speaks, do not interrupt or talk to each other loudly. Respect the other participants who are listening. No need to try to take photos during the guide’s stories, do not interfere, there will be more than enough time for the photo;
