At the beginning of Al Wasl Road in Dubai, not far from the famous Jumeirah Mosque and close to 2nd December Street, is a striking structure that most residents of the city are familiar with.
Officially named Imam Hussein Mosque but popularly known as the Iranian Mosque, the building is a dazzling display of Kashani, the decorative Iranian art of ceramic mosaic tiles commonly seen in holy buildings and shrines.
When he designed the mosque more than 40 years ago, architect Seyed Reza Mohit says he wanted to bring Iranian visual culture to Dubai. “I wanted to have the spirit of Iran here in Dubai,” he tells The National. “Iran has some problems and sometimes tourists are afraid to come. But they go to Dubai, which is a peaceful, nice and modern place, and here they can see something very nostalgic, unique, pure and correct.”
Mohit describes the building as a work of art completely enveloped in the aesthetic concepts of Iranian mosque architecture. “I wanted people to see Iranian architecture in front of them in Jumeirah in Dubai,” he says.
Upon arrival, worshippers and visitors walk past iron gates and then through an outdoor tiled porch towards the mosque, which is framed by two palm trees and two minarets. A set of wide but steep steps lead to the magnificent mosque entrance – a pointed arch set within a tall rectangular block.
The pointed arch is echoed in the shape of the main wooden door and the two narrower windows flanking it. The windows' decorative mesh design repeats the mosaic patterns of the tiles. The mosque's main silhouette is a linear geometric design, with no curved edges, and the dome is concealed behind the large rectangular entrance block. Despite this, the structure still feels welcoming and open.
This is because the two minarets on each side of the mosque include curved lines, small dome-like shapes and muqarnas. Muqarnas are three-dimensional decorations in Islamic architecture, similar to the shape of honeycombs, that sit in rows or tiers on top of one another. They create an overall sense of repetition and balance throughout a facade, and their curved, recessed form gives a sense of depth.
The Kashani mosaic surface, mostly blue, covers the entire exterior of the mosque and continues inside, creating a cohesive, inviting aesthetic flow. The mosque glows in an array of shades of blue through the mosaic floral and geometric designs that also include verses from the Quran.
“All the tiles which you see on this design are handmade and each one was checked by me,” Mohit says. “The calligraphy, the colour, the combination of the nostalgic designs of Iranian design, I chose them and I worked with the builders and makers of the tiles in Iran to create the design.”
He explains that all the tiles come from the central Iranian city of Isfahan, known for its architecture and its rich history as a centre of tile-making artistry during the Safavid dynasty.
Mohit was living and working in Dubai in the late 1970s when he was approached by an Iranian delegation to build a mosque on Al Wasl Road. Aside from being a partner at Today Engineering Consultants, he was also teaching architecture and had won awards for his work in Iran.
There was a smaller mosque on Al Wasl Road but it did not meet the needs of the community. That building was partly demolished and the current mosque is an extension of the original. It took Mohit one year to design the mosque and then another three years to finish the structure.
Imam Hussein Mosque sits in an area of 6,000 square metres with the main structure occupying 2,500 square metres. It can accommodate more than 1,000 people and contains several rooms and halls including a library.
When the mosque was conceptualised, Jumeirah and the larger Dubai city mostly consisted of low-rise, simpler buildings, Mohit recalls. His plan was to build a mosque that would not only capture the public's attention but would also represent Iran and fit into the landscape of Dubai.
The colour blue became a thread that not only connected Iran and Dubai but also architecture and religion too, he says.
“Blue in Iranian cultural designs and architecture is the dominant colour,” he says. “The reason is that Iran is a desert. Iran doesn't have the greenery as much as Europe or somewhere else and the sea isn’t close either. It's all desert. That's why in the centre of Iran, which is the main location for this type of architecture, they use blue to remind them of water.”
The colour blue also has great prominence in Islamic culture. It represents the sky and heavens, as well as the idea of leaving the material world behind and focusing on ascension to a higher state of self. It is considered a calming colour, associated with purity, that can help worshippers relax and focus on their prayers.
Despite the differences between the UAE and Iran, Mohit saw a connection in the location of the mosque on Al Wasl Road, which he says is uniquely located between land and sea and is busy with people.
“That's why when I was designing the mosque I was thinking of monumental architecture,” he says. “The worship or praying inside is the second function when I was designing. The main thing was bringing a sparkling architecture, pure Iranian architecture in the middle of Jumeirah. This was my concept.”
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
Mercedes V250 Avantgarde specs
Engine: 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder turbo
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic
Power: 211hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0 l/100 km
Price: Dh235,000
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Rating: 4 / 5
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1. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 171 points
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP) 151
3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-GP) 136
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6. Sergio Perez (Force India) 50
7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) 45
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9. Carlos Sainz (Torro Rosso) 29
10. Felipe Massa (Williams) 22
Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Rating: 3.5/5
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
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German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
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Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
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A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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Venue Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE squad Saqib Nazir (captain), Aaqib Malik, Fahad Al Hashmi, Isuru Umesh, Nadir Hussain, Sachin Talwar, Nashwan Nasir, Prashath Kumara, Ramveer Rai, Sameer Nayyak, Umar Shah, Vikrant Shetty
TICKETS
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
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North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
Country-size land deals
US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:
Louisiana Purchase
If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.
Florida Purchase Treaty
The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty.
Alaska purchase
America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".
The Philippines
At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million.
US Virgin Islands
It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.
Gwadar
The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees.
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RESULT
Bournemouth 0 Southampton 3 (Djenepo (37', Redmond 45' 1, 59')
Man of the match Nathan Redmond (Southampton)
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Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
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