Mosques of Dubai: A Journey Through Time and Architecture - Gargash Mosque
Explore the history and architecture of diverse mosques across the Emirate
On the exterior wall, triangulated patterns By Dubai Culture by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
The Mosques Of Dubai
Dubai is home to several mosques of exceptional grandeur and beauty. Among them, the Gargash mosque, also known as the mosque of light, stands out with its simplicity of design and contemporary architecture.
In the bustling heart of Al Quoz industrial district, it is a virtual island of tranquil spirituality.
Mosque Minaret with Gumbad by Dubai Culture by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
Named after the departed businessman Mohamed Abdul Khaliq Gargash, the mosque has the distinction of being one of the first in the UAE to be designed by a woman.
Sumaya Al-Dabbagh, a UAE-based architect from Saudi and the founder of Dabbagh Architects, led the project from start to finish.
While commissioning its construction, the Gargash family expressed their desire for a tranquil place of worship away from the clamour of the city.
“Religious buildings are often used to express opulence and status. For the Gargash mosque, the client’s brief was to have simplicity,” observes Al-Dabbagh.
AerialView of the whole mosque at Night by Dubai Culture by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
While mosques are traditionally made up of multiple blocks, the Gargash mosque has a singular structure that is divided into two blocks.
The larger one for prayers, with its upper floor designated for women, and the smaller one for places of ablution, above which the Imam and the Muezzin live.
Between the two blocks is a canopied courtyard. With its two arms almost touching, the canopy conceptually suggests a sense of separation between the sacred and the mundane. The prayer area is believed to signal the spirit while the other represents the body.
The Façade of the Mosque
The façade is built in white stone featuring a recessed geometric pattern and calligraphy. The triangular pattern is everywhere, as a modern interpretation of traditional Islamic geometry. The mosque has a minaret but, unlike convention, it remains a separate entity.
Wooden triangulated patterns as Shoe Rack by Dubai Culture by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
Calligraphy and Interior
Calligraphy contributes to the transformative ambience across the mosque. On the façade, a surah (verse from the Quran) that states “The Most Merciful” goes around like a protective band of blessing.
The mosque sets the ambience for spiritually elevated thought through evocative natural lighting.
The light streaming in through the perforated dome and the triangular patterns on the stone walls, the illumination behind the Mihrab to direct the worshipper’s attention… everything fosters a connection with the Creator.
The construction of the mosque upheld sustainability through locally sourced materials. The GRC, aluminium and ceramics for the exterior were made in the UAE while the stones for the interiors came from Oman.
Besides enabling a reduction in carbon footprint, it facilitated construction during the pandemic.
The mosque structure is designed side walls by Dubai Culture by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
The Gargash mosque has space for 800 devotees at a time. Its contemporary design, Quranic verses in the calligraphy, the proportion of the main space,
the selective use of natural light - every aspect works in harmony to help them transition from a busy outer world and prepare for an inner experience.
Calligraphic verses from the Quran on Mosque by Dubai Culture by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
Calligraphic verses from the Quran goes around the façade of the mosque like a protective band.
The mosque structure is designed side walls by Dubai Culture by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
The mosque structure is designed as one large block set apart by a shaded courtyard.
Mosque Minaret with Gumbad by Dubai Culture by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
The Gargash Mosque has a minaret but, contrary to convention, it is situated from the main building.
On the exterior wall, triangulated patterns By Dubai Culture by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
On the exterior wall, triangulated patterns can be seen as recessed and perforated elements, which serve as elements of décor and little windows.
AerialView of the whole mosque at Night by Dubai Culture by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
Situated along a busy road in Al Quoz, Gargash Mosque is an island of calm in the industrial district.
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