<p>The UAE's first official gurudwara, Guru Nanak Darbar, has opened in Jebel Ali area here, ending years of demand from the Sikh community for a place of worship.The gurudwara is believed to be the first of its kind in the entire region.<br /><br />Spread over an area of 25,000 square feet near the Jebel Ali Hospital, the gurudwara has a dedicated floor for community feasts (langar) and a huge hall for devotional songs (kirtan). Arrangements can be made for langar for about 5,000 people at a time, those associated with the project said.<br /><br />There are an estimated 50,000 Sikhs in the UAE, hailing from both India and Pakistan.<br />The man behind the project, local businessman Surinder Singh Kandhari, thanked the local leadership for their support to the project.<br /><br />"We are thankful to His Highness Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, [Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai], with whose permission this has materialised. He also gave away free land for the gurudwara," he said.<br /><br />"This was a long-standing demand of the community and I am pleased I have done something for the community," said Kandhari.<br /><br />Dubai-based architect firm Holford Associates designed the gurudwara.<br />"We also had the support of Richard Adams from UK who was involved with the Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara on Havelock Road in Southall, London," Kandhari said.<br /><br />There is a 54-metre water body, inspired by the sarovar at the Golden Temple and a cascade. The main prayer hall, on the top player with Palki Sahib, has a 7.2 metre high ceiling and 18-metre diameter dome roof. The function hall can accommodate up to 900 people. The total cost of the project is estimated to be approximately USD 20 million.</p>
<p>The UAE's first official gurudwara, Guru Nanak Darbar, has opened in Jebel Ali area here, ending years of demand from the Sikh community for a place of worship.The gurudwara is believed to be the first of its kind in the entire region.<br /><br />Spread over an area of 25,000 square feet near the Jebel Ali Hospital, the gurudwara has a dedicated floor for community feasts (langar) and a huge hall for devotional songs (kirtan). Arrangements can be made for langar for about 5,000 people at a time, those associated with the project said.<br /><br />There are an estimated 50,000 Sikhs in the UAE, hailing from both India and Pakistan.<br />The man behind the project, local businessman Surinder Singh Kandhari, thanked the local leadership for their support to the project.<br /><br />"We are thankful to His Highness Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, [Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai], with whose permission this has materialised. He also gave away free land for the gurudwara," he said.<br /><br />"This was a long-standing demand of the community and I am pleased I have done something for the community," said Kandhari.<br /><br />Dubai-based architect firm Holford Associates designed the gurudwara.<br />"We also had the support of Richard Adams from UK who was involved with the Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara on Havelock Road in Southall, London," Kandhari said.<br /><br />There is a 54-metre water body, inspired by the sarovar at the Golden Temple and a cascade. The main prayer hall, on the top player with Palki Sahib, has a 7.2 metre high ceiling and 18-metre diameter dome roof. The function hall can accommodate up to 900 people. The total cost of the project is estimated to be approximately USD 20 million.</p>