The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has dedicated a new house of worship in the United Arab Emirates. This will serve members mostly from the Philippines and North America. Although the Church does no proselytizing, the Abu Dhabi government allows those not of the Mulim faith to worship as they desire.
The Crown Prince of the Abu Dhabi Emirate donated the half-acre parcel on which the Abu Dhabi Stake Center is built. The building is located in an area that accommodates other religious structures.
Elder Larry S. Kacher, Area Seventy, said, "We are so grateful to those in the Abu Dhabi government who have been so accepting of other faiths that they are willing to donate land to allow those not of the Muslim faith to worship as they desire. Those government officials in Abu Dhabi have been an example of tolerance and kindness to all who come here and, in return for such consideration, are willing to respect the local laws and traditions. We are grateful to them."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the new 14,000-square-foot building 22 February 2013. An architectural feature of the three-level building is a dome-shaped steeple in keeping with the local culture. Also included in the house of worship are a chapel, offices, classrooms and a small cultural hall.
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Dewan Architects and Mazcot Construction, both Emirati companies, were architect and contractor on this project.The building was dedicated by Elder Holland as part of the stake conference in Abu Dhabi on Friday morning, which is the day the Sabbath is observed in this part of the world. A total of 413 people attended the meeting in the stake center while 637 watched a webcast in other buildings throughout the stake. Others watched the dedication through the Internet.
"The building is very well equipped to transmit our meetings to members around the region," said Robert E. Bateman II, president of the Abu Dhabi stake (diocese). "In terms of electronic technology, remotely controlled cameras and projection capabilities, it may be one of the most advanced in the church."
The stake covers four countries in the area: The United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman.
