The Abrahamic Family House (AFH) in Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, has made the United Arab Emirates (UAE) international icon of interfaith harmony. The complex opened in March 2023, which includes a mosque, a church, and a synagogue, neither of which resembles each other but have one common basis. The concept stems from the fact that Pope Francis visited the UAE in 2019 and signed the historic Document on Human Fraternity with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed El-Tayeb. The architecture of the AFH was created by Sir David Adjaye, the structure is characterized by equality and coexistence to show the seriousness of the UAE on peace and dialogue among the Abrahamic religions in a diverse country where more than 90% of the population is non-Emiratis.
The Abrahamic Family House: Symbol of Unity in Diversity
The Abrahamic Family House is a unique architectural and spiritual project in which Islam, Christianity and Judaism can all be in the same room and respect each other. All of them represent the culture of their respective religious faiths: the Imam El-Tayeb Mosque with its geometric patterns and calm interiors; the St. Francis Church with its light-filled spaces that allow one to contemplate; and the Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue as the first purpose-built synagogue in the UAE that glorifies the Jewish heritage with its Hebrew inscriptions and bronze latticework.
In an Islamic view, the AFH shows that inclusivity has no negative effects on faith, rather it enhances the understanding. To the Christians, it justifies their status in the multicultural society of the UAE whereas to the Jews it is one of recognition and acceptance in the Gulf. Collectively, these sacred spaces are used as a worship, education and cultural exchange.
Global Leadership and the UAE’s Role in Interfaith Diplomacy
The AFH is an international alliance between religion and leadership. The conceptual framework of it was provided by Pope Francis and Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb in their 2019 document. Its implementation was conducted by the UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as part of the Year of Tolerance. The message of coexistence of 200+ nationalities can be seen as the legacy of UAE Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
The project has been praised by world leaders such as Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Cardinal Miguel Angeles Ayuso Guixot and U.S. President Donald Trump (during his visit in May 2025) as important to the world. Rabbi Yehuda Sarna and Imam Mahmoud Nagah are still the religious leaders of the services and discussions, which prove the AFH like a living model of peace not the unification of religions but the co-existence of faiths.
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