The mosque originally served as a kuttab (Islamic primary school) where boys and girls learned to recite and memorize the Holy Quran. It is located in the Grand Souq area of ​​Bur Dubai, near the ruler’s court.

It can accommodate up to 1,965 people and has Dubai’s highest minaret at 70 meters. The minaret is the tower from which the call to prayer is broadcast.

Mohammed Jassim Al MansouriHead of the Engineering Department at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities in Dubai, said Khaleej Times that the mosque, considered one of the largest in the UAE, is the heart of Dubai’s religious and cultural life. Visitors are allowed to take photos but are not allowed to enter the mosque.

“The current Grand Mosque consists of 45 small and nine large domes with stained glass windows, sand-coloured walls and wooden shutters. The mosque is an excellent example of a building from a bygone era, making it a notable landmark and an important place of worship,” he said. “The sand-coloured walls and wooden shutters of the new Grand Mosque blend perfectly with the surrounding old Bur Dubai district and are known for their size and ornate design. It is best viewed at night when it is spectacularly illuminated,” he added.

The mosque is designed in Persian style and features blue mosaic work, domes and sand-colored facades. It is considered Dubai’s most important place of worship and important monument and also contains hand-crafted stained glass and wooden structures. “Although non-Muslims are not allowed to enter the mosque, they can visit the minaret and take photos of the mosque from there,” Al Mansouri noted.

Next to the Grand Mosque are the Heritage and Diving Villages, which give an interesting picture of early life in Dubai. Dubai used to be just a fishing village and its main activities were pearl diving and dhow building.

Another scene depicting the traditional nomadic life of the Bedouins is also present. The almost realistic scene includes replicas or models of Persian houses, an old-style coffee house and a small souk where you can buy freshly baked flatbread. “A museum with authentic remains of nearby archaeological sites is also worth a visit,” he said.

Oldest mosque in the UAE

The oldest mosque in the UAE is located in Fujairah. The Al-Bidyah Mosque is said to be 580 years old and gives the impression of being a building that has grown out of the earth beneath it.

Although some renovations have been carried out over the years, the basic, centuries-old features of the building have been preserved. The mosque has an area of ​​only 53 square meters, making it small.

It was built using materials available in the area, including stones of different sizes and terracotta-colored clay. The mosque is characterized by four squat, spiral-shaped domes supported by a single central pillar, which also forms the ceiling. The entrance to the mosque is through double-leaf wooden doors.

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