All around we can see beautiful mosques in the UAE as well as lots of interesting ones and unique architectural styles. With so many photos of these mosques, I thought it was time I started a post to share them. (This is just a few of them!)
This will be a work in progress as I add photos over time. Some have links to see more information and others will be just a name and location. Feel free to add info or point out any errors in the comments or send an email. Open the table of contents if you want to go to a specific emirate or mosque.
Some of the mosques are well-known and others are just ones that have caught my attention and I stopped to take a photo of. Among them are some of the most beautiful mosques in the UAE, unique mosques, historic mosques and others with interesting architecture.
About Mosques in the UAE
How many mosques are there in the UAE?
There are nearly 10,000 mosques in the UAE. The Emirate of Sharjah has the highest number of mosques, followed by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. In July 2023, Sharjah had 3,092 mosques but more have opened since then.
Many of these photos are in the Emirate of Sharjah due to the number of mosques but also due to their elaborate architecture. I hope to add more from other emirates in time.
Some mosques are built by local or federal government and others are built by individuals, sometimes in memory of a relative as an ongoing charity. You can often see distinct styles in different areas but also two very different styles close to each other.
You can watch a video of many mosques in the UAE that I made when the mosques reopened for Friday prayers in 2021 after being closed for over a year.
Which mosques in the UAE can non-Muslims visit ?
You can visit any mosque from outside but which mosques can non-Muslims enter in the UAE? Here are some you can visit. Most require advance booking.
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Fujairah
- Jumeirah Mosque, Dubai
- Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque, Dubai
About the sermon/khutbah in UAE mosques
While most mosques deliver the khutbah in Arabic, there are some that deliver it in Urdu, Malayalam or English. The khutbah prepared by General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf) is also available in sign language on AwqafUAE on YouTube.
Ahmed ibn Hanbal Mosque in Sharjah, pictured below, was the first mosque to provide sign language for the khutbah.
Mosques in Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi
Opened 2007, Biggest mosque in the UAE, accessible, ladies section, open to visitors with pre-booking. Architect: Yusef Abdelki 🔗 See more at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Ahmed El Tayeb Mosque, Abrahamic Family House, Abu Dhabi
Opened 2023, accommodates 300 worshippers, ladies section, accessible. Architect: Sir David Adjaye OM OBE 🔗 Read more about Ahmed El Tayeb Mosque here.
Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mosque, Al Ain
Opened 2021, accommodates 20,800 worshippers inside, 15,964 sq m, ladies section, accessible. Architect: Bayatya
Qasr Al Muwaiji Mosque, Al Ain
The mosque at Qasr Al Muwaiji (or Al Muwaiji Fort) is around 100 years old. 🔗 See more on Al Muwaiji Fort on Top Places to visit in Al Ain.
Jahili Mosque, Al Ain
Built in 1890s, restored, next to Jahili Fort
Mohammed Alfalahi Alyasi Mosque, Al Mirfa
Opened 2018, Friday mosque, accessible, ladies’ section. 🔗 See more of Al Mirfa here.
Ali Mohammed Sadeq Albulushi Mosque, Samha Abu Dhabi
Opened 2017, ladies prayer area, located next to the E11 Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway
Inside it has a wooden roof resembling the external shape adorned with the names of Allah and it has a large chandelier. It is also called the Blue Mosque by some as the roof and minarets are lit up blue at night.
Mosques in Dubai
Jumeirah Mosque, Dubai
Opened in 1979. 🔗 Read more about Jumeirah Mosque here.
Sultan Yusuf Ahli Mosque, Al Khawaneej
Opened 2010.
Al Farooq Mosque, Al Fahidi District, Dubai
Ladies’ section available
Royal Alkamali Mosque, Al Nahda
Under construction.
Mosques in Sharjah
Mosques in Sharjah City and Al Hamriyah
Sharjah Grand Mosque
Opened 2015, accommodates 25,000, cost AED300 million. Architects – ATI Consultants, Architects and Engineers. 🔗 Read more about Sharjah Mosque here.
Al Noor Mosque, Buhairah Corniche, Sharjah
Opened 2005, accommodates 2200 worshippers, ladies’ section. A regular venue for Sharjah Light Festival.
Maghfirah Mosque, Sharjah Corniche
Opened 2002, Friday mosque, accommodates 2000 worshippers inside, ladies’ section, accessible.
Tarahum Mosque, Al Rahmaniyah, Sharjah
Opened 2023, Friday mosque, ladies section, accessible
Al Daleel Mosque, Sharjah Art Square
Oldest mosque in the city of Sharjah at around 100 years old, restored in the 1990s, accommodates 250 worshippers. Located in Sharjah Art Area.
King Faisal Mosque , Sharjah
Opened 1987, accommodates 16,670 worshippers, ladies’ section, accessible. Known as one of the first large mosques. Architect: Abdul Rahman Abdul Hafidh Al Junaidi. Read more about King Faisal Mosque here.
Al Zahra Mosque, Sharjah
Nabi Muhammad Mosque, Sharjah Industrial Area
Tuwa Mosque, Sharjah
Opened circa 2022
Bishara Mosque, Industrial Area, Sharjah
Alemam Ibn Hazam Mosque, American University of Sharjah
Mosques in Sharjah Central Region
Al Dhaid Mosque, Al Dhaid
Opened 2023, replaced previous mosque, Friday mosque, ladies section, opposite Sharjah Media Building (Al Wusta Channel) 🔗 See more of Al Dhaid here.
Umm Salama Mosque, Al Dhaid
Reconstructed, inaugurated 2022, no ladies section, next to Al Dhaid Fort.
Al Sharia Mosque, Al Dhaid Oasis
Recently restored. 🔗 See more of Al Dhaid Oasis
Ammar bin Yasir Mosque, Al Dhaid
Friday Mosque, ladies’ section, previously venue for Sharjah Light Festival for several years.
Unnamed (as yet), Al Dhaid
Not yet open, privately funded
Mosque at Al Badayer Oasis Retreat, Al Madam
Opened 2022, part of resort, resident imam.
Mosques in Sharjah Eastern Region
Sultan Al Mutawwa Mosque, Khorfakkan
Around 200 years old, restored, featured on old five dirham note. 🔗 See more of Sultan Al Mutawwa Mosque
Umm Al Mumineen Hafsa bint Omar Mosque, Khorfakkan
Imam Yahya ibn Abl Kathir Mosque, Khorfakkan
One of the best places to witness diversity of mosque architecture is on Kalba Beach Road. If you can, start from Kalba Lake and follow the road along the water up to Fujiarah. All of these mosques below, and more, are on that route.
Martyr Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib Mosque, Khor Kalba
Ladies’ section
Saeed bin Hamad Al Qasimi Mosque, Kalba
Opened circa 2021
Al Qalaa Mosque, Heritage Mosque Square, Kalba
Opened in 2022, Accommodates 1080 worshippers, ladies’ section.
Khor Kalba Old Mosque, Heritage Mosque Square, Kalba
One of the oldest mosques in Kalba, restored and reopened in 2021.
Saif Bin Ghanim Mosque is on the roundabout next to Al Qalaa Mosque, offering a stark contrast of old and new. The mosque was used by fishermen and built of traditional materials of coral, plaster and palm fronds.
Ibrahim Al Khalil Mosque, Kalba
Opened 2002
Old mosque, Kalba Beach Road (no details)
Sheikh Rashid bin Ahmed Al Qasimi Mosque, Dibba Al Hisn
Friday Mosque, Ladies section, accessible, lit up during Sharjah Light Festival
Mosques in Fujairah
Fujairah Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Second biggest mosque in the UAE. Opened 2015. 🔗 See more at Fujairah Grand Mosque
Al Bidya Mosque
Oldest extant mosque in the UAE, Friday mosque. Built between 1450 and 1670 AD/CE. 🔗 Read more about Bidya Mosque here.
Habhab Archaeological Mosque
300 years old, restored, no separate ladies section 🔗 Read more at Habhab Village
Al Marhouma Asma Alfahad Bedrawi Mosque, Thoban
Opened 2021, khutbah in Urdu
The spiral minaret is based on that of Samarra Mosque in Iraq. The mosque in Thoban and industrial area and so the khutba/sermon is in Urdu and there is no ladies section.
Abdulla Sultan Alsalami Mosque, Dibba Fujairah
Ladies’ section, accessible
Sheikh Zayed Mosque Dibba Fujairah
Mosques in Ajman
Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Ajman
Amna bint Rashid Alghurairi Mosque, Ajman
Opened in 2013, accommodates 1400, ladies section, 15,000 sq m, cost AED 16 million. Lit up with projections at night in Ramadan. 🔗 Read more about Amna bint Alghurairi Mosque here.
Farm mosque, Al Helio
Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi Mosque, Ajman
Ghanem bin Hamad al Shamsi Mosque, Ajman
Masfoot (Enclave of Ajman)
Bin Sultan Mosque Masfoot
Built 1815, one open prayer hall with mihrab, built with gypsum, clay and palm fronds, restored. See more of Masfoot
Mosques in Ras Al Khaimah
Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi Grand Mosque
Opened 2019, accommodates 3,200 worshipers, ladies section
Sheikh Mohammed bin Salem Mosque
Believed built originally in late 1700s AD/CE. Restored and reopened in 2021.
🔗 Read more about Mohammed bin Salem Mosque here.
Jazeerat Al Hamra old mosque
Located in the old fishing village of Jazeera Al Hamra (Red Island) I haven’t found any information about the date of this mosque. 🔗 See more of Jazeera Al Hamra
Abdullah Ali Ibrahim Al Amash Mosque, Al Rams
Old mosque Shimal
(I haven’t been able to find this mosque recently.)
Abu Bakr As Sidiq Mosque Ras Al Khaimah
The minarets on this mosque have a unique red pattern on them.
Mosques in Umm Al Quwain
Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Umm Al Quwain
Khalfan Salim Al Shawi Mosque, Al Rashidiya
Rashid Mohammed Al Mazrouei Mosque, Al Sharieah, Umm Al Quwain
Wrap-up on interesting and beautiful mosques in the UAE
On our journey through the different emirates, we’ve seen that there are many different architectural styles of mosques in the UAE, some modern, some classic and some unique. All have the same aim of providing a place for worshipers to pray alone or in congregation and the majority cater for men and women.
Some are basic structures fulfilling a purpose and others are very beautiful both inside and out. Of the beautiful, some display opulence and some simplicity. What matters is that they are all havens of tranquility for those who are attending to acts of worship or just seeking a quiet place to contemplate.
If you liked this post, you may also like 15 Top Islamic Attractions in the UAE or Arabic Architecture in Sharjah.
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