UAE Religion & Places of Worship Guide
Understand the UAE constitutional position on religion, non-Muslim houses-of-worship regulation, major worship institutions, anti-discrimination rules, civil marriage and fundraising restrictions.
Current nationwide religious-percentage estimates are not presented here unless supported by a current authoritative source.
Constitutional & Legal Framework
Article 7 of the UAE Constitution establishes Islam as the official religion of the UAE and states that Islamic Sharia is a main source of legislation.
Article 32 guarantees freedom to exercise religious worship, subject to the generally accepted traditions and consistency with public policy and public morals.
The UAE Government also states that other religions are practised freely in the UAE under the country’s policy of tolerance, coexistence and religious inclusion.
Religious practice is therefore protected within a regulated legal framework; it should not be described as an unrestricted right to establish or operate any religious activity without the required approvals.
Islam
Official state religion under Constitution Article 7, with Islamic-affairs administration handled through federal and emirate authorities.
Non-Muslim Worship
Churches, temples, synagogues, gurudwaras and other authorised facilities operate within the licensing and supervision framework for non-Muslim houses of worship.
Coexistence
The federal Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence continues to support national tolerance and coexistence initiatives.
Faith & Worship Overview
Islam
Islam is the official religion of the UAE under Article 7 of the Constitution. The Constitution also states that Islamic Sharia is a main source of legislation. Islamic religious affairs, including mosque development and related services, are overseen through the competent federal and emirate authorities.
| Topic | Current information |
|---|---|
| Faith overview | Islam is the official religion of the UAE under Article 7 of the Constitution. The Constitution also states that Islamic Sharia is a main source of legislation. Islamic religious affairs, including mosque development and related services, are overseen through the competent federal and emirate authorities. |
| Example places of worship | Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (Abu Dhabi), Jumeirah Mosque (Dubai), Sharjah Mosque (Sharjah), Al Bidya Mosque (Fujairah) |
Legal / administrative points
- Islam is the official religion under Article 7 of the UAE Constitution.
- Article 32 protects freedom to exercise religious worship subject to public policy and public morals.
- The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments is the federal reference for Islamic affairs and endowments.
- Mosque services and local Islamic-affairs administration may also involve emirate-level authorities.
Major Places of Worship & Interfaith Sites
| Place / institution | Location | Faith / role |
|---|---|---|
| Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque | Abu Dhabi | Major Islamic mosque and landmark |
| BAPS Hindu Mandir | Abu Dhabi | Hindu temple opened in 2024 |
| Abrahamic Family House | Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island | Interfaith complex containing a mosque, church and synagogue |
| St. Mary’s Catholic Church | Dubai | Catholic church serving the Dubai community |
| St. Joseph’s Cathedral | Abu Dhabi | Catholic cathedral |
| Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara | Dubai, Jebel Ali | Sikh place of worship |
| Bur Dubai Hindu Temples | Dubai | Historic Hindu temple facilities |
Individual worship schedules, visitor arrangements, dress requirements and access restrictions can change. Users should confirm the current rules directly with the place of worship before visiting.
Federal Law No. 9 of 2023
Federal Law No. 9 of 2023 provides the current federal framework for regulating non-Muslim houses of worship. Its 2024 Executive Regulation is Cabinet Resolution No. 82 of 2024.
- Licensing and registration of houses of worship
- Founding-member and governance requirements
- Articles of association and financial records
- Supervision by the competent authority
- Rules governing events, activities and external relationships
- Administrative penalties for violations
Supervision & Penalties
| Warning | Available as an administrative penalty. |
| Suspension | Activity can be temporarily suspended under the law. |
| Board action | The competent authority has specified powers concerning the board of directors. |
| Administrative fine | AED 5,000–1,000,000 |
These are administrative penalties under the Houses of Worship law and are separate from any criminal liability that can arise under other federal laws.
Religious Hate, Discrimination & Defamation
| Offence category | Published penalty framework |
|---|---|
| Certain offences involving insulting / defaming religions, rituals or sanctities | Imprisonment of at least 1 year + AED 250,000–1,000,000 fine, or either penalty |
| Certain offences involving divine books | Imprisonment of at least 2 years + AED 500,000–2,000,000 fine, or either penalty |
| Discrimination offences covered by the law | Imprisonment of at least 1 year + AED 500,000–1,000,000 fine |
The exact statutory provision and facts of the incident determine which penalty applies. This should not be simplified into a single “religious hate speech = AED 2 million” rule.
Donations & Fundraising: Two Laws Matter
Federal Law No. 3 of 2021
The federal Donations Law regulates collecting and providing donations in the UAE and establishes competent-authority controls.
It is broader than religious organisations and applies to donation activity generally.
Federal Law No. 9 of 2023
The Houses of Worship law specifically prohibits a non-Muslim house of worship from collecting donations, allowing them to be collected, or announcing such collection through audio, print, visual or social-media channels.
Religious fundraising must therefore be handled through the lawful competent-authority framework rather than informal public collection.
Civil Marriage for Non-Muslims
| Route | Current framework | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Federal civil-personal-status framework | Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 covers civil personal status for non-Muslims. | Federal rules contain their own conditions, including age requirements under the executive regulation. |
| Abu Dhabi Civil Marriage | Abu Dhabi has a separate civil-marriage service under its personal-status framework. | Current UAE Government guidance states both parties must be at least 18, neither may be a UAE national, and other conditions apply. |
| Dubai Civil Marriage | Dubai offers a civil-marriage service for qualifying non-Muslim residents. | Current UAE Government guidance states both parties must be non-Muslim, at least one must be a Dubai resident, and the couple must satisfy the published 21+ and documentary conditions. |
| Ceremonial / religious marriage | Non-Muslims can also conclude marriage formalities through their embassy/consulate or an authorised place of worship. | Embassy registration and UAE registration/attestation requirements can apply. |
Ministry of Tolerance & Coexistence
The UAE Government currently lists the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence as a federal ministry. It was created as the Ministry of Tolerance in 2016 and renamed Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence in the 2020 Cabinet restructuring.
| Area | Role |
|---|---|
| National tolerance policy | Promotes tolerance, coexistence and cultural understanding. |
| Interfaith dialogue | Supports initiatives and programmes involving different faiths and communities. |
| Legal licensing | The ministry should not be described as the sole licensing authority for every religious institution; the Houses of Worship law assigns roles to the competent federal and local authorities. |
Related UAE Tools & Guides
2026 VerifiedFrequently Asked Questions
Official Sources
This page is based on the UAE Constitution, UAE Legislation portal, UAE Government, UAE.Stat and current official regulatory materials checked for 2026. It is not government-verified, endorsed or certified by Awqaf, the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence, or any religious institution.
Religious-site opening hours, visitor rules, worship schedules, licensing arrangements and local procedures can change. Users should confirm current details directly with the relevant competent authority or place of worship.
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