DUBAI // Plans for a 1,400-square-metre mosque intended to provide Downtown Dubai with a "modern-day cultural landmark" have been unveiled.
Construction of the Sheikh Zayed bin Mansour Al Nahyan Mosque - named after the son of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, the Deputy Prime Minister - is already under way, although an opening date is yet to be determined.
The mosque, designed in a traditional architectural style, will be situated behind the Qamardeen Hotel near the Burj Khalifa and the Old Town development in grounds encompassing an area of more than 3,700 sq m.
With a dedicated prayer hall for more than 85 women and a Quran study room, the mosque will be able to accommodate about 800 people at a time.
It will be the fourth mosque in the country to open its doors to non-Muslims.
Saba Usman, 31, from Pakistan, who has lived in the area for two years, said she was looking forward to its opening.
She believes it will be a "nice addition" to the other facilities in the neighbourhood.
"I love living here because I'm within walking distance of everything, and the mosque is kind of like that final piece of the puzzle," Ms Usman said.
The developer, Emaar Properties, said the mosque would be easily accessible and would offer plenty of parking for both worshippers and visitors.
Ahmad Al Matrooshi, the developer's managing director, said the building was designed to reflect the nation's "rich traditional architectural heritage while serving as a haven of peace and serenity".
He added: "We are thankful to His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the opportunity to host this mosque in Downtown Dubai."
Mr Al Matrooshi said the mosque was "set to become a modern-day cultural landmark for Dubai".
Emaar said the mosque would "add to the convenience of residents and visitors of central Dubai, Downtown Dubai and Business Bay".
Downtown Dubai will also soon house the Dubai Modern Art Museum and the Opera House District.
The mosque will join the ranks of Dubai's long-established places of worship, which include the Jumeirah Mosque, the Grand Mosque Dubai, Bastakiya Mosque and Grand Rashidiya Mosque.
It will be the fourth mosque in the country to open its doors to non-Muslims after Al Farooq Omar Ibn Al Khattab Mosque opened in Dubai a year ago.
The only other UAE mosques to allow non-Muslim visitors are the Jumeirah Mosque and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
The Grand Mosque, the biggest in the country, opened to worshippers in 2007 after 11 years of construction.
The site, which covers approximately 22,412 sq m, has a maximum capacity of almost 41,000 people and is the size of five football fields.
molson@thenational.ae
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
Votes
Total votes: 1.8 million
Ashraf Ghani: 923,592 votes
Abdullah Abdullah: 720,841 votes
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Scorline
Iraq 1-0 UAE
Iraq Hussein 28’
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Result
Qualifier: Islamabad United beat Karachi Kings by eight wickets
Fixtures
Tuesday, Lahore: Eliminator 1 - Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators
Wednesday, Lahore: Eliminator 2 – Karachi Kings v Winner of Eliminator 1
Sunday, Karachi: Final – Islamabad United v Winner of Eliminator 2
Gulf Men's League final
Dubai Hurricanes 24-12 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
ENGLAND SQUAD
Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Naga
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Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
Wonka
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The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine 2.4L four-cylinder
Gearbox Nine-speed automatic
Power 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.4L/100km
