If you want to make your trip to Dubai more meaningful then you should visit the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU). This is a non-profit seeking organization which has been set up for the purpose of increasing understanding and awareness between different cultures in Dubai. The main objective of this organization is to remove barriers between people belonging to different nationalities and at the same time the organization strives to raise awareness of the local religion, customs and culture of the UAE (United Arab Emirates).
Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created inand the organization became renowned in 1998 when it participated in the Dubai Shopping Festival program. At that time volunteers vouched to invite people to visit the organization in an attempt to educate them about Islam and the culture in Dubai and to this effect leaflets were handed out to people. The motto of this organization is “Open Doors. Open Minds” and it is an extremely popular destination for tourists from all over the world. The activities organized by the organization are the main reasons as to why so many people visit this destination when they are vacationing in Dubai.
Located in Dubai which is one of the fastest developing and growing cities in the world, Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding is the best place to understand the cultures and to find out more about Dubai. This organization, although not being your typical tourist spot is definitely charming and intriguing and offers a number of different and interesting activities such as a visit to the Jumeirah Mosque, Cultural breakfasts and lunches, Bastakiya Tours, Cultural Awareness events and programs and also Arabic classes.
The Jumeirah Mosque is the only mosque in Dubai which allow non-Muslims to enter. Having a SMCCU guide is a must if you want to visit the mosque. You can go for the Jumeirah Mosque tour on Sundays, Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am. The meeting point is just outside the mosque.
If you want to enjoy a traditional homemade UAE breakfast then there’s nothing better than the cultural breakfast offered in Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding. You can enjoy your breakfast in the centre which is a typical wind tower house situated in the Bastakiya quarter. The cultural breakfast is available only on Mondays and Wednesdays at ten in the morning. Want to relish the local delicacies of Dubai? Then you ought to go for the cultural lunch which is offered on Sundays and Tuesdays at 1 pm in SMCCU. The lunch is accompanies by a speech on the region’s culture and traditional. This speech is given by a UAE national.
Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding also holds Arabic language course on a rolling basis.
Points of note
Remember to dress conservatively if you are visiting the Jumeirah Mosque. It is important to respect the Muslim culture and religion by dressing appropriately when going for the Jumeirah Mosque tour.
Visit the website www.cultures.ae for tour and visit schedule information as these are subject to changes.
The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding is your opportunity to understand what Islam is all about. The guides are very knowledgable and you can ask them anything. It really bridges the gap between East and West and tries to correct the stereotypes of what Islam is all about.
When – If you are planning to take the Jumeirah Mosque tour then it is at 10 am every Sunday, Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday. The Cultural breakfasts are available twice a week: Monday and Wednesday at 10 am. The Cultural Lunch is held on Sundays and Tuesdays at 1 pm. How long – The Jumeirah Mosque tours usually last for approximately seventy five minutes while the timings for other activities are subject to variation.
Location – Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding is situated in the heart of Bastakiya Quarter in Bur Dubai. Just ask the taxi driver to take you to the traditional wind tower house in Dubai.
Cost – The Cultural breakfast costs around 60 AED while the Cultural lunch cost 70 AED. Meanwhile the Jumeirah Mosque tour cost only 10 AED.
Bookings – For the Jumeirah Mosque tours booking isn’t required. So it means that you can just turn up and wait at the meeting point, i.e. just outside the mosque, at the allotted time and wait for the SMCCU member to provide you with a tour of the mosque. For cultural breakfast, Bastakiya tours and Cultural lunch booking is a must. For bookings you may contact them at 043536666 or you can send them an email at smccu@cultures.ae.
More info – For more information you can visit the official site of Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding at http://www.cultures.ae
