Built from white sandstone and crowned with a central dome and two towering minarets, Jumeirah Mosque is Dubai's main place of worship and arguably one of the most beautiful mosques in the United Arab Emirates. Aside from being an extremely popular photography site in Dubai, the landmark is also notable in that it is the only mosque in the city open to non-Muslim visitors—an excellent way to gain a deeper understanding of Islam and its traditions.
The Basics
While it is most often visited as a photo stop on city tours, non-Muslim travelers are able to enter for an hour-long visit and Q&A session when accompanied by a guide from the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding. This program, called 'Open Doors, Open Minds' is a way for non-Muslims to learn about Emirati culture. A visit to the mosque is often included in half-day or full-day sightseeing tours of Dubai, and the mosque is also one of many stops on hop-on, hop-off sightseeing buses, in addition to attractions such as the Burj Khalifa, Burj Al-Arab, Dubai Creek, and the Dubai Mall.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Photography is allowed inside the mosque, so don't forget to bring your camera.
- Visitors are asked to wear modest dress (long pants or skirts and sleeves, with headscarves for women) and to remove their shoes before entering the mosque.
- The site's informational 'Open Doors, Open Minds' program includes coffee, dates, and pastries.
- Appropriate attire can be provided at the mosque if necessary.
How to Get to the Jumeirah Mosque
Located on Jumeirah Road, the mosque is accessible by taxi, public transportation, or on an organized tour.
When to Get There
Should you miss out on the daily interior tour (held at 10am six days a week), the mosque is still worth visiting at dusk, when its intricate facade is lit up beautifully.
Jumeirah Mosque Architecture
The mosque is built in the medieval Fatimid tradition, developed in the Middle East during the Fatimid Caliphate. The mosque was built in 1976, and its adherence to the Fatimid style is considered a triumph of modern Islamic architecture.
