When you think of Dubai, you probably imagine the Burj Khalifa or the Palm Islands, which are architectural and engineering marvels in their own right. But there is another national monument that defines Dubai’s and the United Arab Emirate’s culture and history, and that is the Jumeirah Mosque Dubai.
Built-in 1976, Jumeirah Mosque is one of many iconic landmarks in Dubai and also one of the only two mosques in thThe ideal time to visit Jumeirah Mosque is at the time of sunset. e country that is open to the public, non-Muslims included.
What makes the mosque stand out is its relevance to the Islamic culture and history of the Emirates as well as its unique architecture. The white stone facade, tall and elegant minarets, and picturesque landscaping were inspired by the Al Azhar Mosque in Cairo, Egypt – the largest religious institution in the Islamic world.
Located on the scenic Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah Mosque Dubai is pretty popular among residents and tourists who wish to learn and experience the culture and history of Dubai and the UAE.
How about a cool fact? The Jumeirah Mosque is featured on the AED 500 currency note.
If you want to know more about the mosque, then you have come to the right place. Let us take a guided tour of the fascinating architectural piece of art that is the Jumeirah Mosque.
Jumeirah Mosque Dubai History
The Jumeirah Mosque Dubai was built in 1976 by HH Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, then ruler of Dubai. It is said that the mosque was a gift by the late ruler to his son and current ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Located on the pristine Jumeirah beach road, which is well-known for the Burj Al Arab and the Palm Jumeirah, the Jumeirah Mosque is part of the region’s iconic shoreline and its history.
When the mosque was initially being built, Jumeirah Beach was home to local fishermen and pear hunters. At the time, Dubai was just beginning its journey toward becoming one of the world’s most popular hotspots. A lesser-known fact is that the Jumeirah Mosque Dubai was constructed on top of another mosque that was destroyed in 1960.
The mosque plays a very important role in spearheading the cultural and religious programs initiated by the Dubai government. Jumeirah Mosque is managed by the Shiekh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU), which even offers a guided tour of the mosque to familiarize tourists with the building and give them an insight into the religion of Islam.
The Unique Design Of Jumeirah Mosque Dubai
The ground was broken for the Jumeirah Mosque Dubai in 1976 and the place of worship was opened to the public in 1979. The architect behind the mosque, whose name is a mystery, was heavily inspired by the medieval Fatimid style of Islamic architecture found in Egypt and Syria.
Another reference to the monument’s design was the Al Azhar Mosque in Cairo, which is considered the most important religious institution in Islam and second-oldest continuously run university in the world.
Some key features of the Jumeirah Mosque’s design are its intricate geometry, walls laded with Arabic calligraphy, fortress-like crenellations, and carved archways. The entire structure is made completely out of white stone, an ode to construction techniques used during the era of the Fatimid Caliphate.
The compound of the Jumeirah Mosque Dubai contains the mosque itself, gorgeous landscaping that surrounds the structure, paved pathways that lead to the mosque, an outdoor ablution area, and an indoor majlis or sitting area. Another distinctive feature of the building is the two minarets or towers that frame the central dome and its surrounding four smaller domes.
The structure has two minarets, which are tall towers with a balcony representing an area from where Islamic clerics traditionally made calls to prayer five times a day. Hence, at times the Jumeirah Mosque Dubai is fondly referred to as the ‘Two Minaret Mosque’.
Inside the main prayer hall, you will be mesmerized by the beautifully carved series of elegant columns and arches, stained glass windows, plush green prayer carpet that goes the length of the hall, brass chandeliers that illuminate the entire prayer area, and the artistic peach and blue ceilings that are adorned with verses from the Holy Quran in Arabic calligraphy.
Once you enter the mosque, on the opposite end you will see a mihrab, a semicircular niche in the wall indicating the Qiblah or the direction Muslims face when offering their prayers. This is the spot where the Imam or the cleric stands to lead prayers to the 1,200 worshippers the building can hold.
Jumeirah Mosque Dubai opening hours
The Jumeirah Mosque is one of the two mosques in the UAE and the only mosque in the Dubai emirate that offers tours to non-Muslims.
The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding conducts a guided tour of the mosque under its “Open Doors, Open Minds” initiative which is a policy undertaken by the Dubai government to educate tourists about the Islamic faith and the Emirati culture.
The tour which takes place at 10:00 AM local time from Saturday to Thursday starts from the mosque’s majlis, a traditional sitting area commonly seen in Arab homes. This is where visitors must register themselves 30 minutes before the tour begins.
Here you are provided with refreshments like Arabic tea and coffee, water, snacks, and dates.
Afterward, the tour guide will lead you to the ablution area of the mosque where worshippers perform wudu, a cleaning ritual performed before entering the mosque. The guide will explain to you how the ablution is performed and then proceed to the main prayer hall. Here they will educate you on how Muslims offer their prayers. You may even ask the guide questions about the local culture and faith to cure your curiosity.
Is there a dress code to follow when visiting the Mosque?
Since the Jumeirah Mosque Dubai is a place of worship, visitors must adhere to strict rules. Both male and female tourists are required to wear modest clothing that covers their shoulders and knees. Women have additional dressing etiquettes to follow where they must wear a head scarf to cover their hair when inside the premises.
If you did not carry the appropriate clothing, the mosque will provide you with traditional Muslim dresses that can be returned at the end of your tour.
Tour Options
Although Jumeirah Mosque has no entrance fee, a guided tour of the masjid can cost you AED 25 or 6.8 USD per person, which includes refreshments like water, Arabic tea and coffee, and Emirati pastries. The 75-minute tour takes place daily at 10:00 AM except on Friday.
There is no reservation required for the tour but you will have to arrive at the mosque 30 minutes before it begins.
Visitors can also arrange private tours of the mosque by getting in touch with the SMCCU. Outside of the guided tour, you can visit the mosque every day between 10:00 AM and 8:00 PM.
Cameras are allowed inside the mosque, allowing tourists to take pictures of its magnificent interior and exterior. While the white walls look clean in pictures during the day, the mosque is stunning from the outside at dusk. It is not without reason that the Jumeirah Mosque Dubai is known to be the most photographed mosque in Dubai.
Jumeirah Mosque Dubai location and how to get there?
Jumeirah Mosque is located along the famous Jumeirah Beach Road in the upscale neighborhood of Jumeirah 1. The destination is easily accessible via road and metro, making it one of the most visited tourist spots in Dubai.
If you are coming from the Dubai International Airport area, the mosque is only a 20-minute drive away and can be easily reached via a taxi or Uber which is widely available in the city.
On the road, you must stay on Jumeirah Beach Road until you reach the mosque. Parking is not an issue as the mosque has plenty of space inside and outside where you can park your vehicle.
If you are planning on getting to the mosque via the metro, you will first need to take the red line to Union Metro Station and then change to the green line which is headed towards Al Jadaf Metro Station.
Get down at Burjman Metro Station and either take a taxi to Jumeirah Mosque or if you decide to walk, follow the signs to Jumeirah Beach Road until you reach the mosque.
You can also get to Jumeirah Mosque Dubai via bus. All you need to do is to catch a bus from the Ghubaiba Bus Station that passes through Jumeirah Mosque. Otherwise, you can catch a green line metro to Burjuman Station and get on the E201 bus which stops at Jumeirah Mosque. You can also hop on busses 8, 9, and X28 to get down near the masjid.
The Jumeirah Mosque is a historic and architectural marvel that plays an important role in the traditional and cultural history of the United Arab Emirates.
The gift of the late Shiekh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum to his son and the people of Dubai is a stepping stone in the megacity’s path to growth and prosperity.
If you are traveling to Dubai, Jumeirah Mosque Dubai should be on your list of places to visit. Moreover, you will be able to see and experience an exquisite example of Islamic architecture that was heavily inspired by the Fatimid era of construction. I highly recommend visiting the mosque if you are someone interested in architecture or curious to learn about Arab culture and the faith of Islam.
To learn more about one of the most loved landmarks in the UAE, you can visit the jumeirahmosque.ae website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jumeirah Mosque Dubai has no entrance fee and can be visited between 10:00 AM and 8:00 PM every day except on Fridays. Guided tours are available at AED 25 or 6 USD.
Jumeirah Mosque is located in Jumeirah 1, on Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai. The mosque can be easily accessed via taxi, bus, and metro.
Yes, Jumeirah Mosque is the only mosque in Dubai that is open to non-Muslim visitors. However, visitors have to adhere to strict dressing rules that ask for men and women to cover their heads, shoulders, and knee at all times.
Yes, cameras are allowed inside Jumeirah Mosque Dubai. But visitors are not allowed to handle any items inside the mosque purely for religious reasons.
Jumeirah Mosque is located five minutes away from the Jumeirah Public Beach, where you can also view the iconic Burj Al Arab, Dubai’s most luxurious and the world’s only seven-star hotel.
The Etihad Museum is a 10-minute walk away and the Dubai Museum and Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding are a 15-minute drive away from the mosque.