On Thursday, an announcement was made regarding a new initiative that will showcase the historically significant mosques in Abu Dhabi to tourists.
The initiative has been launched by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi in cooperation with a number of local churches and the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments (GAIAE) to be included in the Year of Tolerance.
The Mosques Tour Initiative is intended as an introduction to Islamic culture and history for tourists by providing tours of the mosques in the emirate, according to state news agency WAM.
St Joseph Cathedral’s Father Anderson Thompson and St Anthony Cathedral’s Father Fakhro Bishop attended the launch alongside the GAIAE’s executive director Omar Habtoor Al Darei.
The initiative’s first phase involved a detailed process to select the mosques that were the most iconic and of the greatest historical significance in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates.
Five mosques will be covered by the new tour, including the Al Kareem Mosque in Al Marina, the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan the Second Mosque in Al Khalidiyah, and the Mariam, Umm Eisa Mosque in Al Mushrif.
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi tourism and marketing sector acting executive director, Ali Hassan Al Shaibh, says that they are pleased to be working with the GAIAE to launch this one-of-a-kind initiative that is alignment with the aims of the UAE’s Year of Tolerance.
Offering tours of the mosques is also in sync with the attempt to shed more light on the Islamic civilisation and culture by which Abu Dhabi is characterised, something that is reflected in both the historic and contemporary mosques that litter the city.
Abu Dhabi’s authenticity and originality is reflected by all of the chosen mosques, which offer visitors the chance to get to know Islam’s true teachings and educate people on the values that teach noble ethics and tolerance, Al Shaibh claims.
The tour will tell the story of all the mosques and highlight the Islamic architecture used to build them and the role that mosques have played in UAE society as a symbol of cooperation, peaceful coexistence and acceptance.
The tours will only add to the historic sites, spectacular coastline, museums and other heritage attractions that tourists can enjoy in the emirate.
Anyone who is intending to travel to Abu Dhabi or anywhere else in the UAE should take out travel insurance before they set off on their journey.
Travel can be a risky business no matter where you are going, and travel insurance is a great way to give yourself financial protection in the event that something unexpected happens or something goes wrong while you are away from home.
Such events can include something as serious as falling ill or being injured in an accident while in a foreign country or less serious but still potentially costly problems such as flights being cancelled or luggage being lost or stolen.
