In response to the question, “Which is the first Hindu temple in the UAE?“ many, including AI chatbots, answer “the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi“. While this might seem technically correct to some, historically and factually, this answer is inaccurate. The UAE, established on December 2, 1971, had a Hindu temple before its formation. The Shiva Temple, established in 1958 in Bur Dubai, holds this distinction. This historical site also includes a Krishna Mandir and a Gurdwara, marking it as the UAE’s first Hindu spiritual center.
In 1958, Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who took over the governance of Dubai that year, granted permission to construct this Hindu temple on the first floor of the old souk in Bur Dubai. Owing to the proximity of this Hindu temple, many Indian Hindu expatriate families choose to reside in Bur Dubai, a location that also hosts the majority of Indian restaurants. This temple, originally established in Bur Dubai, has been relocated to Jebel Ali for greater convenience. Nonetheless, rituals and ceremonies are still conducted without interruption.
When the first Hindu temple in Bur Dubai was established, the United Arab Emirates had not yet formed. It was in 1971 under the leadership of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, that six emirates united to form an independent federation. A year later, Ras Al Khaimah, the seventh emirate, joined the federation. Today, the federation consists of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, and Ras Al Khaimah.
Third temple of UAE
Before February 14, 2024, there were two temples in the UAE. In addition to the temple established in Bur Dubai in 1958, dedicated to Shiva and Krishna, a new temple was completed in Jebel Ali in 2022. The Shiva Mandir and Gurudwara were relocated to a new Hindu temple at the new site in Jebel Ali, while the Krishna Mandir continues to stay at the Bur Dubai location. Apart from these two temples, the third temple, now established in Abu Dhabi, is the BAPS Mandir. The uniqueness of this temple lies in its traditional hand-carved stonework. It is the first temple of its kind to be constructed in the Middle East and Western Asia.
Governance & Population
Islam is the official religion in the UAE, whose system of governance is very unique, blending federalism, presidentialism, and monarchy into a federal presidential elective constitutional monarchy. The first temple in the UAE was initiated in Bur Dubai in 1958 when the population of Dubai was below 60,000. Today, it stands at 36,50,000 (3.65 million). Meanwhile, according to estimates in 2023, the total population of the UAE is only 9.97 million, with the expatriate population accounting for approximately 89% of this figure. Among them, about 800,000 (6.6% of the population) individuals are from the Hindu community. Most of these individuals conduct their worship practices at their places of residence.
India UAE Relations
According to history, India and the emirates that would later form the UAE have had trade links since 3000 BC. The relationship blossomed politically, economically, and culturally after H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan became the Ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966, especially after the formation of the UAE in 1971. Official diplomatic relations began in 1972, with the UAE opening its embassy in India in 1972, and India opening its embassy in the UAE in 1973. Over the past five decades, the relationship has grown to the point where a 27-acre Hindu temple can now be opened. Before 1971, the Trucial Sheikdoms of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Fujairah, and Ras al-Khaimah were under a British protectorate.
BAPS – The Meaning
BAPS, short for Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, is a distinguished Hindu sect and an international spiritual organization within the Swaminarayan tradition. Established in 1907 by Shastriji Maharaj, inspired by Swaminarayan’s teachings, BAPS places a strong emphasis on the Akshar-Purushottam doctrine as its foundational principle, highlighting spirituality, volunteerism, and community service. The core philosophy of BAPS, known as Akshar-Purushottam Upasana, advocates for the worship of Swaminarayan as the supreme deity, or Purushottam, and Gunatitanand Swami, his foremost devotee, as Akshar.
BAPS Hindu Mandir
On February 14, 2024, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the third Hindu temple in the UAE and the first traditional ‘Hindu stone temple’ in the Middle East, the ‘BAPS Hindu Mandir.’ This event marks a new chapter in the half-century-long enduring friendship between the UAE and India.
The BAPS Hindu Mandir’s inception traces back to Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s vision during his 1997 visit to the UAE, aiming to foster unity among countries, cultures, and religions. This vision materialized when, in August 2015, the UAE government allocated land for the temple in Abu Dhabi, a gift from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
The foundation stone for the temple was laid on 20 April 2019 in a ceremony led by Mahant Swami Maharaj, BAPS’s spiritual leader, symbolizing the start of construction. Today, the temple, located near Al Rahba on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Highway in Abu Mureikha, spans 27 acres and stands as a testament to spiritual harmony, measuring 108 feet in height, 262 feet in length, and 180 feet in width.
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