UAE’s first Hindu temple: all you need to know

  DUBAI – The laying of the foundation stone for the UAE’s first traditional Hindu temple takes place on Saturday (April 20) in Abu Dhabi. The pink sandstone slabs will form the base of the temple to be built in Abu Mureikha, near Al Rabba in the capital. The land was a gift from Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. The groundbreaking ceremony comes as the UAE marks 2019 as the Year of Tolerance. Here is everything we know about the temple so far:

How big is the temple?

The temple will sit on 55,000 sq m, of land, and will have an additional 55,000 sq m for parking.

Where will it be located?

The temple will be located in Abu Mureikha on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi city, north of the airport.

What can visitors see in the temple?

It will have a visitor’s centre, prayer halls, exhibition centres, learning facilities, play areas, library thematic garden with water features, a vegetarian food court, a books and gift shop.

Who can visit?

Anyone can visit the temple or use the assembly halls to celebrate festivities.

What will the temple be made of?

The temple will be made of pink sandstone and marble that are handcrafted in India’s Rajasthan state.

What will the temple look like?

India's ambassador to the UAE has compared the style to Neasden Temple in London. The temple will have seven spires to represent the emirates and five arched domes. It will also feature carvings of trees, flowers, peacocks, elephants and deities.

Who will construct and manage the temple?

The Baps Swaminarayan Sanstha will build and manage the temple.

When will the temple be completed?

It was first announced that construction would be completed by 2020, however, Indian ambassador Navdeep Suri last month estimated that construction “will take a couple of years”. GAD/Expat 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