Unity in diversity: A comparative study of new mosques in Ajman, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Abstract

Ajman is the smallest emirate in the UAE. Changes in the feature of urban areas in Ajman started in 1980 with the petrodollar economy. The upsurge of the global economy led to the construction of new buildings. Many mosques were built during the last few years in Ajman. The design of the mosques is distinctive in many aspects exhibiting differences in architectural style and form. Although there are some general rules and specifications for the new mosques suggested by the General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Awqaf (GAIA), nevertheless, it is not fully pursued. Therefore, it is important to address the issues of unity and identity through the physical image. According to our research, there are some purely modern mosques; others are a combination of traditional and modern styles. This paper will evaluate the different types of mosques that were built recently in Ajman. Similarities and differences between the various mosques will be analyzed and highlighted. The research was based on primary data conducted during the fieldwork in addition to drawings obtained from the GAIA. Despite the trend towards having diverse mosque designs, this study reveals that there is still a kind of unity among the new mosques.