Hindus constitute the third-largest religious group in the United Arab Emirates, primarily embraced by the sizable Nepali and Indian communities. Unofficial estimates, as per the 2007 International Religious Freedom Report, suggest that around 15 percent of the UAE’s population adheres to Hinduism. Presently, Dubai houses two temples, namely the Hindu Temple, Dubai, and the Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali.
The highly anticipated opening of the third temple, the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, heralds the region’s first traditional Hindu stone temple and is just weeks away. In August 2015, the UAE government allocated land for the construction of the temple in Abu Dhabi, with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan presenting the land as a gift during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inaugural visit to the UAE. Commencing its construction in December 2019, the iconic temple is set to be inaugurated on February 14 through a grand ceremony, with Modi accepting an invitation from BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha to lead the inauguration.
Pujya Swami Brahmaviharidas, the head of the BAPS Hindu Mandir, underlines that the temple stands as a profound symbol of “a spiritual oasis for global harmony.” This magnificent, traditionally built stone temple and its cultural complex honor the past while simultaneously charting a new direction for the future. It represents the kindness, fraternity, and humanity shown by the leaderships of the UAE, India, and the international community as a whole and acts as an eternal homage to the spirituality of HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
This initiative has the potential to nurture mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation among diverse communities in the region. It also contributes to enriching the cultural and spiritual diversity of the UAE while fortifying the ties between India and the UAE.