This article gives detailed information on Jumeirah Mosque.

Attracting expatriates from every corner of the Earth, Dubai maintains an indubitable status of a cosmopolis. And being smart and progressive, the city respects these foreigners as its own. This spirit has informed Jumeirah Mosque so that it doesn’t merely go by the slogan, “Open doors; open minds” but in actuality keeps an open door to tourists, whatever their faiths, on certain benign conditions. Below is an interactive map of Dubai by Google.

Jumeirah Mosque’s Address: Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah 1, Dubai
Phone: +971 4 353 6666
Email: [email protected]
Official Website: JumeirahMosque.ae

Jumeirah Mosque is one of the only two mosques open to non-Muslims in Dubai, the other being Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque in Al Safa. Given that it’s remarkable, it’s featured on the Dh500 note. When you step into it, you’re immediately greeted with an immersing aura of serenity. You have the opportunity not only to enter the mosque but also to learn about Islam and the Emirati culture by virtue of a guided tour operated through The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU).

Are you a woman? The “Open doors; open minds” policy includes you and you’re welcome to enter the mosque. Further with regard to the policy, using the camera inside the mosque is acceptable. This way, you can capture your memorable moments. This explains why Jumeirah Mosque is the most photographed mosque in Dubai.

The Building

The iconic mosque is built of white stones and styled in the Fatimid architectural tradition of the Medieval time. This distinguishes it from other mosques in the neighborhood. It is adorned with white and blue glasses that glisten.

The mosque has five domes, one large central dome flanked by four smaller ones, each adorned with intricate stone carvings. It boasts a pair of minarets (towers) flourishing gloriously above it. It is at the balcony of the minarets the muezzin makes his calls to prayers. Consequent upon the pair of minarets the mosque boasts, it is also called “the two minaret mosque”.

In the day, the mosque’s white walls boast an exquisite aspect; As the sun sets, the white stone transforms into a deep blush before melting into a soft golden hue. After nightfall, the mosque is lit from the bottom. This accentuates the stone carvings and elaborate details.

The serene interior of the mosque is decorated in soothing tones of apricot, cream and duck-egg blue, with brass lanterns illuminating the central prayer hall and surrounding nooks. The mosque can hold up to 1,200 worshipers. It boasts two sections for worshipers, one for men and the other for women. It also has a praying hall partitioned for men and women, two ablution areas, the imam’s residence, and one for the muezzin.

The prayer hall was constructed in the hypostyle form, where the roof is held up by a multitude of columns. Opposite the entrance to the prayer hall is the qiblah wall. It’s where worshippers pray in rows, facing the direction of the Ka’aba.

In the center of the qiblah lies the mihrab, which serves as the place the imam leads prayers five times a day, every day.

The Mosque’s Siting

The mosque’s siting is felicitous as it offers visitors a cool haven against the scorching sun and honking cars. Further, opposite Jumeirah 1, where the mosque is sited, is a small open-area shopping center called Palm Strip Mall. You could visit it to satisfy some needs as it boasts a variety of shops that offer everything from clothes to ice cream parlors and restaurants.

Touring The Mosque

Tourists, Muslims or not, are welcome to take a tour of Jumeirah Mosque. This tour gives you the opportunity to have a great introduction of the Five Pillars of Islam, the mosque and the Emirati culture. Further, you should learn about the importance of the Qiblah, a semicircular niche in the wall that indicates the direction of the Kaaba (The Cube) in Mecca.

TarunDS thinks, “[The tour lecture is] an interesting intro to the islamic culture and basics of the religion”.

You may not bother about asking questions that might be considered sensitive as the SMCCU in line with its ethos, “Open minds; open doors,” welcomes tourists to ask any questions they may have about the region and religion, with no topic considered too sensitive. Below is a tour video.

Tours are held on Saturday to Thursday and each lasts for 75-minutes. Tours are not held on Fridays.

Are you taking the tour? You need not book beforehand, but try to arrive before 9:45 a.m. for the morning tour; 1:45pm, for the afternoon. The morning and afternoon tours includes light Emirati refreshments such as dates, water, Arabic coffee, tea and Emirati pastries.

You register with the majlis across the mosque. Thereafter, you head towards the fountain outside where a presenter will demonstrate and explain the ‘wudu’ – the cleansing process before prayers. This is followed by an entrance into the mosque for the learning mentioned earlier, and also to have all your questions answered.

Morning Mosque Tour
Cost: AED 25 per person
Time: 10:00am daily except for Fridays; registration starts at 9:30am

Afternoon Mosque Tour
Cost: AED 25 per person
Time: 02:00pm daily except for Fridays; registration starts at 01:30pm

Besides the regular tours, private visits to the mosque can be arranged through the SMCCU. If you’re traveling with 10 or more persons, you could strike a deal with the SMCCU to arrange a private group tour.

Jumeirah Mosque Dress Code

It is logical to discuss the dress code allowed in the mosque right after discussing touring it. Given that the mosque is a place of worship, to gain access into it, tourists are expected and constricted to dress modestly.

Whether you’re a woman or a man, your shoulders and knees must be covered. Your attire should be loose and non-transparent. Ladies are mandated to cover their head with a scarf. If you don’t have such attire as described, you could borrow from the mosque.

Thoughts about Jumeirah Mosque

Karishma P:
We visited for the morning 10am tour. We first saw where worshippers would wash themselves before entering the mosque, they even asked for some volunteers. We next headed into the mosque and had an informative talk on the origins of Islam and dispelling many myths.

Jeddati:
Visited the Mosque, at dhur time, beautiful on the outside and peaceful inside, clean ablution area which was opened up at midday. We also took a leisurely10 stroll across the road to the beach front after.

Chinwilly:
Two words: Amazingly beautiful. Saw great use of Italian and Arabian culture. Amazing place also got to wear Muslim hijab.

Shabeerabdool:
This is a beautiful Mosque….you must visit when in Dubai..the architecture is amazing…women can go in as well…Please dress appropriately!!

MaryBethJ_65:
Worth the trip – public visits only certain days and times so be aware of that. Just beautiful. Worth the visit and the walk around.

NoorAliAbbas:
Jumeirah Mosque is a wonderful architectural monument with beautiful minarets (towers) and it is one of the oldest mosques in the UAE. It is located on Jumeirah beach road.
The mosque is very clean and surrounded by greenish garden and trees. It looks very beautiful at night with colorful lights.
The area around the mosque is very calm and it attracts the tourists since it is located near Jumeirah beach and port.
A vast free parking is available near the mosque. It is a main landmark of Dubai city. It is easily accessible by public transports.

The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU)

It has been established that the SMCCU organizes the tours of Jumeirah Mosque. Some information about it thus is be relevant. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, saw the need to reach out and educate expatriates in the traditions and customs of the UAE. His vision led to the creation of The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU) in 1998. In 2015, the SMCCU was honored with the membership of The Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Global Initiatives.

Located in a beautifully restored wind tower house in the historic Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood in Bur Dubai, the SMCCU offers a range of activities, from traditional cuisine to informative conversations led by local Emiratis. To reiterate an important point, with its slogan “Open doors; open minds”, all questions – no matter how sensitive – are welcome.

Address: House 26 Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Al Musallah Street, Bur Dubai, Dubai.
Phone: +971 4 353 6666
Email: [email protected]
Official Website: Cultures.ae

Destinations Close to Jumeirah Mosque

1. Burj Al Arab — World’s most luxurious hotel.
2. Etihad Museum — witness the site where the United Arab Emirates was born.
3. Jumeirah Public Beach

Conclusion

With the foregoing piece of information, you shouldn’t be hard put to visit and have a tour of Jumeirah Mosque.

Dubai is host to different creative, inspiring, thrilling and exuberant attractions aimed at bringing orgasmic relief to the human eye, heart and constitution — body, mind and spirit. Some examples include Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, the Jumeirah Palm Island, the Infinity Tower, Wild Wadi WaterparkTM, Dubai Fountain, Orbi Dubai, Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, the Dubai Mall, Kidzania, The Marina and a host of others.

References:
TripSavvy.com
TandfOnline.com
Cultures.ae & 2
TripAdvisor.com
GulfNews.com
VisitDubai.com