Three Religions, One Space: The Abrahamic Family House
By: Maryem Bouatlaoui / Arab America Contributing Writer
The Interfaith Purpose
The Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates brings together the three Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity in one space. The interfaith complex houses the Imam Al-Tayeb Mosque, the Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue, and His Holiness Francis Church, fostering a space for religious coexistence. There is a fourth space that is religiously unaffiliated, intended to serve as a center for interreligious assembly. The Abrahamic Family House offers religious services as well as guided tours, religious and cultural celebrations, and shared spaces for interfaith dialogue.
The building of the Abrahamic Family house followed the signing of the document “Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together” by Pope Francis and Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb in February 2019. Supervised by Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, the project was completed in February 2023 and inaugurated by international religious leaders Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan. On March 1, 2023, the complex opened to the public, showcasing the United Arab Emirates strides towards unity and acceptance.
The Architecture
The Abrahamic Family House was designed by Ghanaian-British architect, Sir David Adjaye, and his company, Adjaye Associates. Adjaye is famous for his architectural projects across the world such as the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., and the National Cathedral of Ghana in Accra, Ghana. His architectural designs tend to be geometric, minimal, and ultramodern. In 2021, Adjaye was the first African to receive the Royal Gold Medal, an architecture award granted by the Royal Institute of British Architects on behalf of the British monarch.
The three houses share identical cubical measurements of 30x30x30 meters, however, each house renders its own architectural design, reflecting each religion’s respective aesthetics. In an interview, Adjaye stated that “each building’s architectural articulation is unique and specifically oriented to its siting and religious references.” The Imam Al-Tayeb Mosque retains seven arches, paying homage to the significance of the number seven in Islam. The linear timber battens falling from the ceiling of His Holiness Francis Chruch are meant to allude to the Biblical shower of ecstatic redemption. A bronze mesh fabric lines the interior of the Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue refer to the sukkahs, which are temporary dwellings erected during the Jewish festival of Sukkot.
Educational Resources
Beyond the three religious houses, the complex also contains a library, classrooms, and auditoriums. The Abrahamic Family House hosts seminars, panels, and workshops by each house of worship on a range of topics from conflict resolution to marriage to grief. Furthermore, the complex offers educational programs for the youth as well as university students.
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