BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi

BAPS Hindu Mandir is the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East. It stands in Abu Mureikhah, off the Abu Dhabi–Dubai highway, on 27 acres of land gifted by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. The temple was consecrated on 14 February 2024 and opened to all visitors on 1 March 2024.

What to see

The 108-foot (about 33 m) temple is crowned by seven spires, one for each emirate. Its exterior is clad in pink sandstone from Rajasthan and its interior in white Italian marble. More than 30,000 carved stones were hand-carved in India by over 2,500 artisans, showing scenes from Hindu scripture, stories from world cultures and Indian and Arab motifs. According to Gulf News, no iron or steel was used in the structure, and about 300 sensors monitor the building.

The grounds include the Prayer Dune, marking Pramukh Swami Maharaj's 1997 prayer in the Sharjah desert, the 3D-printed Harmony Wall, a ghat with the evening Ganga Aarti and the Tolerance Trees, 6,500-year-old sub-fossil oaks. There is also The Orchard vegetarian food court, furnished with the crates that carried the temple's stones, and the Smruti shop.

Getting there

Driving is easiest: take exit 366 off Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Road (E11) onto Al Taf Road (E16) at Abu Mureikhah. It is about 54 km and 40 minutes without traffic from central Abu Dhabi, and about 95 km and just over an hour from Downtown Dubai.

Planning your visit

Entry is free, but every visitor must register in advance on mandir.ae and show a QR pass at the gate; unregistered visitors are turned away. Register only after arriving in the UAE. The temple is closed on Mondays. Allow one to two hours, and in the evening you can catch the Ganga Aarti by the water.

Before you go

Bring your original Emirates ID or passport, which is checked against the pass. Shoulders and knees must be covered: shorts, skirts above the knee, sleeveless tops and tight or see-through clothing are not allowed, and sarongs are sold at the entrance. Leave bags and backpacks in the car; food and drinks, even water, are not allowed, and security checks are thorough. Personal phone photos are fine, while professional cameras, selfie sticks and drones need permission. Pets are not allowed.