The United Arab Emirates made a worldwide icon of interfaith unity with the creation of Abrahamic Family House on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, according to the UAE latest News. This historic complex is open now, and it contains a mosque, a church, and a synagogue, that are separate, but have one common core. The project conceived by Sir David Adjaye was the result of a historic encounter between Pope Francis and Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayeb in 2019, in which they both signed the Document on Human Fraternity. The Abrahamic Family House today is a symbol of the long-term devotion of the UAE to coexistence and mutual respect between Islam, Christianity, and Judaism; those virtues resonate in the multicultural society.
A Landmark of Faith: The Abrahamic Family House and the UAE’s Vision
The Abrahamic Family House is one of the evidence of the strong commitment of the UAE to cooperation with other religions. The Imam El-Tayeb Mosque, St. Francis Church and Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue have all maintained their own religious architectures, and all have a common foundation, which brings about equality and understanding.
This project was initiated following the visit made by Pope Francis in 2019, when the Pope and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar signed a revolutionary declaration which called on peace and human fraternity. This vision was promoted by the leadership of the UAE, with the President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as the Year of Tolerance in the country.
The complex supports the message of the UAE, which is unity in diversity, in a country in which more than 90% of the population is non-Emirati, and the faith diversity ranges between Islam (74.5%) and Christianity, Hinduism, and Judaism.
Perspectives of the Three Abrahamic Faiths
Islam: Compassionate and Inclusive Leadership.
Imam El-Tayeb Mosque highlights the important role of Islam in promoting peace. The peaceful nature of its design with patterned screens and prayer mats provides a reflection atmosphere. It is a sign of Muslim power to believe in coexistence, and it is a sign that Islamic countries can promote interreligious dialogue without losing identity and values.
Judaism: The Gulf and Visibility and Renewal.
The Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue, first intentionally constructed public synagogue in the UAE, represents the new beginning of the Jewish life in the area. It has Hebrew inscriptions and bronze latticework and functions as a spiritual and educational center, which also indicates the UAE as an inclusive nation and more generally the normalization of the presence of the Jewish culture after the Abraham Accords.
Christianity: A Flame of Recognition and Peace.
The St. Francis Church is a bright and peaceful place to worship and meditate. It has a name of St. Francis of Assisi and is one of the tributes to the Christian principles of peace and humility. To the Christian community living in the UAE, it is not merely a place of worship, but also a source of equal status in the interfaith world of the country.
Global Leadership and Symbolism
High-profile international personalities have been flocking the Abrahamic Family House due to its diplomatic and cultural impact:
Pope Francis: Signed the founding Document on Human Fraternity; his visit and mass of 2019 were the inspiration of the initiative.
Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayeb: Co-author to the document, and founder of the mosque, in favor of dialogue and not division.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan: UAE President who gave out land and spearheaded the actualization of the project.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed: UAE Foreign Minister that introduced the project on an international level and stood behind Abraham Accords.
Donald Trump: In May 2025, U.S. President was the first American president to visit the AFH. Compliments the UAE on its togetherness and devotion.
The project has been praised by Ephraim Mirvis, Cardinal Miguel Angeles Ayuso Guixot, Rabbi Yehuda Sarna and Imam Mahmoud Nagah as a ray of hope in terms of interreligious dialogue in the world.
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