Centre includes a church, mosque, synagogue and place of learning
The Abrahamic Family House, a new center for learning, dialogue and the practice of faith located in the Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi, was officially inaugurated on February 19, 2023. Encompassing three separate houses of worship – a mosque, a church, and a synagogue – as well as shared spaces for gathering and dialogue, it will welcome visitors from March 1.
The three houses of worship are of equal stature and share external dimensions, and have been designed by Sir David Adjaye, of Adjaye Associates, to respect the architectural codes and individualism of each faith. Each takes the form of a cube that is thirty meters deep, thirty meters wide, and thirty meters tall. The shared garden is another space for gathering, learning and conversation for members of diverse faith communities and visitors of all beliefs.
The project was inspired by the principles in the Document on Human Fraternity, signed by His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence Grand Imam Dr Ahmed El-Tayeb in Abu Dhabi in 2019. At the Abrahamic Family House, visitors can participate in religious services, guided tours, celebrations, and opportunities to explore faith.
Each of the dedicated houses of worship, the Eminence Ahmed El-Tayeb Mosque, His Holiness Francis Church, and Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue, has space for observers, and daily guided tours will show visitors features of the design pertinent to the practices and traditions of each faith.
The complex’s central forum functions as a visitor experience center, where an immersive exhibition will introduce visitors to the Abrahamic Family House and invite reflection on the three faiths. The space will host discussions, forums, and conferences that promote understanding, dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
Rooted in the UAE’s values of bringing people and cultures together, the Abrahamic Family House embodies the diversity of Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE, home to vibrant multicultural communities of various faiths.
