Dubai is set to launch the world’s first floating mosque by next year worth Dh55 million. The mosque will feature an underwater prayer hall that will be accessible to all the worshipers. The announcement of this huge project took place on Thursday, September 22.

The worshipping hall is going to be developed by the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in the United Arab Emirates at Dubai Water Canal.

According to the authorities, this floating mosque will be a new iconic religious destination which will increase the count of visitors and boost the tourism drive in Dubai.

Inside the floating mosque there will be three dedicated floors including the submerged prayer hall. The hall will have the capacity to serve 50 – 70 worshippers at a time.

During the announcement of the mega project, the authority shared a few first glimpses of the iconic mosque plan that will attract many tourists in the future.

According to the cultural communication consultant at IACAD, Mr.Ahmed Khalfan Al Mansouri the floating mosque is one of the major projects for developing the tourism sector in Dubai and attracting more devotees to the religious sites.

“The floating mosque will be an important attraction in the Emirate. Visitors will walk into the mosque and either pray or see the underwater praying hall,” said Ahmed Khalfan Al Mansouri, the cultural communication consultant at IACAD.

“The mosque will be connected to the land. We are finishing the design, and it will be open to visitors next year,” he further added.

Two floors of the floating mosque will stay above the water level. Inside the two floors, there will be a dedicated hall included for Islamic lectures and workshops. According to sources, there will be a seating area lounge, and coffee shop above the water part, while the underwater part will have restrooms, a prayer hall, etc.  This mosque will give a whole new world of experience to the worshippers. The structure and the commute facilities are still not revealed. As per the sources, tourists can walk down to the mosque which will be connected to the mainland through a bridge.

No particular religion, but the floating mosque will be open to all people from different faiths. The only requirement is to dress modestly and act according to Islamic customs.

It is mandatory for all women to wear dresses that cover their hands and shoulders.

Earlier this year, in January IACAD unveiled a plan to construct the world’s first and fully functional 3D-painted mosque.

The process of constructing the mosque is going to begin in October. The mosque will be built in a total area of 2,000 square meters, in Bur Dubai. The authority expects it to be functional by early in 2025. The Mosque will have a capacity to serve 600 worshippers.

As per the report shared by the authority, the 3D printing on the structure of the building will take around months to complete, and 12 months to fit other accurate facilities inside the structure.

The Director of the IACAD tourism project, Dr. Abdullah Abduljabar shared his view on the project. He said it is a great initiative to share the mosques of the United Arab Emirates with a large number of audiences.

He also said their focus would be on promoting the rich and unique culture of the nation during the occasion of major religious festivals, such as Eid and Ramadan days.

Dr. Abdullah Abduljabar said, “Many historic and modern mosques deserve a visit in the Emirate. We will organize tours in different mosques to encourage religious tourism. The project will benefit from Ramadan and Eid timings to attract visitors. It is also a chance for visitors to explore Islamic culture and Emirati traditions.”