– Dubai Municipality and IACAD sign strategic agreement to improve religious facilities and maintain the emirate’s heritage identity.
– Agreement aims to improve religious infrastructure, conserve heritage mosques, and enhance Eid prayer grounds design and preparedness.
– Partnership to improve management of funeral and cemetery services in accordance with Shariah and administrative standards.
– Consent to harmonize mosque building procedures in accordance with optimum government procedures, such as the use of 3D printing technology.
Dubai Municipality has signed a strategic agreement with the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai (IACAD) to upgrade the infrastructure of religious facilities, preserve heritage mosques, enhance the design and readiness of Eid prayer grounds, and improve the management of funeral and cemetery services.
The agreement supports Dubai’s vision to strengthen institutional collaboration and enhance the overall quality of life in the emirate.
The understanding aims to harmonize efforts and create a shared vision for the construction and design of mosques, while protecting cultural, religious, and architectural heritage. Dubai Municipality will restore and maintain heritage mosques under the agreement, preserving their traditional character and authentic architectural elements.
IACAD will operate them, covering the provision of imams, muezzins, preachers, religious programs, and daily cleaning.
Both organizations will collaborate to strengthen services through better quality standards and simplifying mosque construction procedures in accordance with best government practices.
Dubai Municipality will scrutinize and streamline applicable procedures, accelerate permit approvals, and integrate IACAD’s approved engineering, planning, and construction standards within the Dubai Building Code. Developers will be advised to create temporary prayer areas for in-situ workers, while donors will be urged to provide financial support for mosque construction based on cutting-edge 3D printing technology.
Organization of Funeral and Cemetery Services
Consistent with their common commitment to institutional integration, Dubai Municipality will establish and enhance mortuary washing facilities, making available the logistical and administrative backup. IACAD will administer all Shariah aspects, such as assigning personnel for washing, shrouding, and burial, training staff, licensing mortuary washers, issuing permits for volunteers, and full adherence to religious procedures.
His Excellency Marwan Ahmad Bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, stated: “This strategic agreement constitutes an important milestone in the cooperation between our two organizations. It enhances the efforts of both parties to deliver high-quality services that contribute to the public as a whole while maintaining the true spirit of historic mosques and prayer locations.”
The partnership also reflects our commitment to enhancing quality of life by developing public facilities that embody Dubai’s cultural and religious identity, blending urban progress with heritage conservation.”
His Excellency Ahmed Darwish Al Muhairi, Director General of IACAD, said: This partnership represents a significant step towards enhancing Dubai’s religious infrastructure, making its facilities a benchmark for institutional integration and service excellence. Our goal is to create spaces that embody Islamic values, preserve heritage, and serve all segments of society.”
Eid prayer grounds
The deal will also upgrade Eid prayer grounds to accommodate the emirate’s urban and demographic expansion. Dubai Municipality will carry out works of beautification, issue permits, and design the grounds based on an enhanced model with provisions for commercial outlets and necessary construction specifications.
IACAD will manage the grounds, give administrative services, and oversee operations to be in a constant state of preparedness.
The alliance demonstrates mutual efforts in designing and building mosques to the best quality, simplifying technical processes, embracing new construction technologies, maintaining the originality of heritage mosques, and operating cemetery and funeral services in accordance with Shariah and administrative regulations.
The agreement will provide high-quality, sustainable religious buildings and promote religious and social activities in accordance with Islamic principles.
