In collaboration with the GAIAE, UAEU held the Unveiling of Emirati Mosque Designs Event

The United Arab Emirates University hosted the “Unveiling of Emirati Mosque Designs” event in collaboration with the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, and Zakat (GAIAE). The event was held in the presence of H.E. Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Chancellor of UAEU; H.E. Dr. Omar Habtoor Al Darei, Chairman of GAIAE; H.E. Ahmed Rashid Saeed Al Neyadi, Director-General of GAIAE; and H.E. Prof. Ahmed Ali Al Raeesi, Acting Vice Chancellor of UAEU, along with a number of officials, faculty and administrative staff, and university students.

This event is part of an architectural competition launched by UAEU to design a sustainable and innovative Emirati mosque. More than 60 students from the Architectural Engineering Department at the College of Engineering participated as part of an applied project for the Integrated Building Design course, under the supervision of faculty members.

H.E. Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh emphasized in his speech that the “Emirati Mosque” project reflects the University’s commitment to promoting national identity and reinforcing Islamic values through academic and intellectual innovation. He explained that the University was keen for the designs to go beyond functional aspects, presenting an architectural vision that integrates authentic Emirati heritage with modernity, offering a space that brings together worship, knowledge, and community engagement.

His Excellency noted that the project serves as a practical academic platform that enables students to develop architectural models that embody authenticity, national belonging, and sustainability. He affirmed that architecture is part of an integrated civilizational system that expresses the relationship between people, place, and time. He also highlighted that this initiative aligns with the University’s strategy to enhance student capabilities and engage them in distinctive national projects.

For his part, H.E. Dr. Omar Habtoor Al Darei stated that the designs showcased at the event transcend mere architectural elements, serving as enduring symbols of national identity and a living extension of the legacy of the past and the vision of the future. He emphasized that the selection of UAEU to host this event is both an honor and a national responsibility, reaffirming that the noblest form of knowledge is that which serves the nation and empowers future generations to express their values and identity in innovative ways.

His Excellency added that the students’ designs reflected a deep awareness of the importance of integrating the spiritual, human, architectural, and national dimensions. Through their work, the students presented models that embody the spirit of the UAE, grounded in principles of sustainability, innovation, and local identity. He noted that the Authority greatly values the inspiring developmental ideas that have emerged from this academic partnership—ideas that contribute to enhancing the role of the mosque as a social, intellectual, and spiritual center, and that help cultivate a generation of architects who understand that architecture is both a message and a responsibility.

The event featured eight finalist projects selected from 18 student teams, all of which explored contemporary architectural concepts inspired by local heritage, with a focus on sustainability, energy efficiency, accessibility, and the social role of mosques.

At the conclusion of the event, participating students and project supervisors were honored, and a virtual presentation of the design proposals was held. The event received widespread praise for the creative outputs presented by the students, which demonstrated their ability to merge architectural innovation with cultural and national vision.