Abu Dhabi’s dedication to religious tolerance is enshrined in the Abrahamic Family House, the stunning cultural and spiritual precinct on Saadiyat Island. The complex is also on the schedule for US President Donald Trump on the final day of his four-day Gulf trip. He has already visited Riyadh and Doha before arriving in the UAE capital.
Launched in 2023, the space celebrates the shared values of Islam, Judaism and Christianity with a mosque, synagogue and church on one site.
Designed by Ghanaian-British architect Sir David Adjaye, the Abrahamic Family House is open daily to worshippers and visitors for tours and prayer services. If you are visiting for the first time, here is what to expect.
The Welcome Centre
Driving to the Abrahamic Family House is relatively straightforward. Take the Saadiyat Island exit off Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street. The site is beside the soon-to-open Zayed National Museum and Louvre Abu Dhabi is also nearby.
After parking in the underground car park and passing through a security scan, visitors are ushered towards the Welcome Centre. The large rectangular space is filled with warm lighting and has an elegant yet minimal reception booth. It also doubles up as an events space.
The walls display historical milestones that led to the creation of the Abrahamic Family House. The centrepiece is the Document on Human Fraternity – a joint statement signed by the late Pope Francis as head of the Catholic Church, and Sheikh Ahmed El Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar, in Abu Dhabi in 2019.
The overall atmosphere is calming and sets the tone for a journey of contemplation and reverence.
The garden
The elevated space, accessed via a set of stairs or a lift, is an ideal point to begin your visit.
It allows you to appreciate the Abrahamic Family House's collective objective as the garden, which contains more than 200 local plants, connects all three houses of worship.
Look carefully and you can see surrounding Saadiyat Island residential communities, Louvre Abu Dhabi, NYU Abu Dhabi and Berklee Abu Dhabi university.
It brings the significance of the Abrahamic Family House to light. This is a place that connects faith with community, and the wisdom and treasures of the past with the enterprising promise of the future.
The mosque
The three houses of worship share similar architectural elements and materials, but each has its own style.
Named after the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, the Imam Al Tayeb Mosque can hold 300 people. The exterior's minimalist design is made up of seven arches, reflecting the importance of the number in Islam.
Separate ablution areas flank the mosque and there are plenty of cubby holes in which to place shoes before entering. Step inside and you enter a space as intimate as it is cavernous.
Instead of ornate chandeliers, a feature of most mosques, there are discreet and powerful spotlights. The high ceilings are domed to ensure the sound reverberates richly, while the soft auburn carpet has ingrained lines to help worshippers align themselves for prayer.
Generous shafts of light pierce through windows, which are engraved with Islamic motifs. It is a tranquil space suited for moments of reflection.
The synagogue
The Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue has seven pillars on the ground and eight above, supporting the roof. The message being, according to our guide, that God is bigger than any human creation.
The synagogue is named after the 12th-century Jewish scholar and astronomer who worked in Morocco and Egypt. There is a mikveh – a bath used for ritual immersion – outside the prayer hall, as well as a smaller space for religious studies.
The Ten Commandments are printed in Hebrew and flank the walls of the prayer hall.
A suspended bronze mesh structure descends from a central skylight inside. Our guide says the zigzag shapes of the structure are similar to tents and represent the Jewish communities of old congregating to practise their religion.
The church
A plain golden crucifix hangs in the middle of the Catholic St Francis Church, to welcome Christians of all denominations.
It is an airy and acoustically pristine space defined by floor-to-ceiling windows and a wooden canopy. The altar is slightly elevated and the pews are spacious enough to accommodate up to 300 people.
Outside is a small triangular pool of water to symbolise the Trinity of Christianity and the three Abrahamic faiths.
What’s happening there
Regular prayer services take place, including the predawn fajr at the mosque. A programme of events, from cultural discussions to community gatherings, take place across the site.
In addition to ticketed daily guided tours, each house of worship organises events relevant to its faith. Interfaith events, from guest lectures to conferences, are also held at the venue. All events are regularly updated on the Abrahamic Family House's website and social media channel.
Information about the Abrahamic Family House is available at forhumanfraternity.org
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Four tips to secure IoT networks
Mohammed Abukhater, vice president at FireEye in the Middle East, said:
- Keep device software up-to-date. Most come with basic operating system, so users should ensure that they always have the latest version
- Besides a strong password, use two-step authentication. There should be a second log-in step like adding a code sent to your mobile number
- Usually smart devices come with many unnecessary features. Users should lock those features that are not required or used frequently
- Always create a different guest network for visitors
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
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