Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding

The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU) is based in the Bastakia Quarter of Dubai and was established with the aim of removing the barriers between people of different nationalities and to raise awareness of the local culture, its traditions, customs and Islam among foreign residents and visitors. They do this by organising numerous tours and activities including:

Jumeirah Mosque Tours

Jumeirah Mosque is the only Mosque in Dubai open to non-Muslims. Visitors must be accompanied by a SMCCU guide. Tours are every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 10 am. No booking necessary. Appropriate conservative dress required. The meeting point is outside the Jumeirah Mosque.

Cultural Breakfast

Experience a traditional home made U.A.E breakfast in the ambience of the SMCCU’s centre, a typical wind tower house in the Bastakia quarter. The breakfasts are held on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 am. Bookings required.

Bastakia Walking Tours

A traditional tour of the historical Bastakia Quarter. Bookings are essential.

Cultural Lunch

Enjoy a freshly prepared lunch of local dishes with an explanation of the region’s tradition and culture by a UAE national. Every Sunday and Tuesday at 1 pm. Bookings required.

Spoken Arabic Courses - Gulf Dialect

Arabic language course are held on a rolling basis. Contact the centre for more details.

Reviews / Comments / Additional Information

SMCCU

Just a quick update on the information above on the programmes offered by SMCCU.
Jumeirah Mosque visit is at 10am every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. 10 AED pp, no advance booking required.
Cultural Breakfasts are every Monday and Wednesday at 10am. 60AED pp, advance booking is essential.
Cultural Lunches are every Sunday and Tuesday at 1pm. 70 AED pp, advance booking is essential.
Bastakiya Walking Tours are operated on a frequent basis upon demand. Booking is essential. NO NOT SHOW UP WITHOUT A BOOKING as the schedule is subject to change.
Spoken Arabic Courses are held on a rolling basis. Please contact the centre for more details.
Please contact smccu@cultures.ae or 04-353-6666 for booking information.

Altamash Javed

Excellent job with the informative images and small descriptions of Islam and Muslims that are placed in several malls around Dubai. This is a tiny mistake in one of the pieces I was reading that might confuse many people so if possible make the change. One of the slabs should say "through the angel Jibrail" rather than "though the angel". I spotted this mistake at festival city shopping mall (near second cup).

a palmer

The Jumeirah Mosque tour with the Centre for Cultural Understanding costs dhs 10. Don't forget you'll have to cover up. You can also just turn up, there's no need to book.