What is inside a prayer room? A look at the elegant spaces in the UAE

From the new prayer room in Yas Mall, to one in Dubai that can accommodate only three worshippers at a time

Praying is an integral part of most religions. In Islam, many worshippers perform five prayers a day, with the first, fajr, starting at dawn, while the last, isha, done at night.

Where the daily prayers take place is not set in stone, though they ideally happen in a clean and quiet space. Consequently, many public arenas such as parks and malls have prayer rooms for worshippers on the go.

Prayer rooms have dedicated regulatory bodies – the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai, for example – whose jurisdiction includes approving the creation of such a space. There are also certain parameters to meet to ensure the sanctity and purpose of the room.

The rooms come in various shapes and sizes. Some can accommodate more than 1,000 people – such as the one inside City Centre Al Zahia in Sharjah and the newly opened one in Yas Mall – while the one at The Courtyard in Al Quoz fits only three worshippers at once. Prayer rooms in malls tend to be bigger when compared to those in private offices.

Here, The National looks at the three main components of prayer rooms in the UAE.

Prayer area

The prayer room at The Courtyard in Dubai has colourful ornamentation. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The majlis area of the prayer room at The Courtyard. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The Courtyard space only fits up to three people at once. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The prayer room in Dubai Design District is fitted with a sleek qibla wall. Antonie Robertson / The National

The storage and ablution areas of the D3 prayer room. Antonie Robertson / The National

The prayer room in the Mall of the Emirates. Antonie Robertson / The National

The ablution area in the Mall of the Emirates prayer room has Islamic motifs. Antonie Robertson / The National

The Mall of the Emirates prayer room allows ample lighting via stylish window panels. Antonie Robertson / The National

The Mall of the Emirates prayer room also has ventilated shoe racks. Antonie Robertson / The National

A digital display of prayer timings at the City Centre Al Zahia prayer room in Sharjah. Antonie Robertson / The National

The qibla in City Centre Al Zahia's prayer room. Antonie Robertson / The National

Marble is a prominent feature in the ablution area at City Centre Al Zahia. Antonie Robertson / The National

Yas Mall opened a new prayer room in March. Photo: Yas Mall

The reception area of the prayer room. Photo: Yas Mall

The airy prayer room has a stylised ceiling and light fixtures. Photo: Yas Mall

The centrepiece of the room is the designated prayer area. Muslims pray on rugs or mats while facing the qibla, or the direction of the Kaaba, the black stone inside the Grand Mosque in Makkah. Most prayer rooms are already carpeted, so bringing individual prayer mats is a matter of choice.

Prayer rooms are fitted with a marker that indicates the qibla, whether it's a permanent fixture, a compass or a digital display. In more spacious rooms, there will be a carved qibla wall often with ornamental details, from geometric patterns to accent lighting. It is the focal point of prayer rooms, similar to a mihrab in mosques.

The qibla marker of the prayer room at Dubai Design District. Antonie Robertson / The National

The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department offers a free service and sends a team to accurately determine the qibla direction at any establishment.

Aside from the qibla, the main prayer area also has a digital display of the prayer timings. Some are more advanced than others, including the one at Ibn Battuta Mall where the digital display is accompanied by an automated sound of the adhan, or Islamic call to prayer. Some prayer areas will also include copies of the Quran and prayer beads, although these are optional to use.

Female worshippers are required to cover most of their bodies during prayer. Women-only prayer rooms are provided with isdal, a prayer dress for those not carrying their own.

Ablution area

The ablution area of the prayer room at Mall of the Emirates. Antonie Robertson / The National

Cleanliness is a crucial element of prayer and Muslims perform a ritual washing beforehand called wudu. Ideally, prayer rooms should have a separate ablution area with a few dedicated sinks or fountains. These typically have a low flow or a tap designed for the easy washing of hands, arms, face and feet.

Storage space

The receiving area of the City Centre Al Zahia prayer room in Sharjah. Antonie Robertson / The National

Prayer rooms, especially those with high traffic, offer storage such as shelves, hooks or small lockers for shoes and other personal belongings to keep them space and out of the way during prayers. Muslims remove their footwear when praying and some shoe racks are fitted with a form of ventilation to maintain cleanliness.

Prayer rooms are an important part of communities in the UAE and become busier during Ramadan when two additional prayers are performed, taraweeh and qiyam al layl.