The Arabian desert contains one of the most unique religious oases in the world, the Abrahamic Family House. The Abrahamic Family House is not just a monument to humanist ideals of toleration but is the site of active religious interchange between Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Opened in 2019, the House exemplifies the UAE’s founder, Sheikh Zayed’s, vision of a tolerant and non-extremist Arab state. The emphasis on shared humanity, weighted by the centrality of faith with shared roots, is the central ethos of the AFH. The ideal of mutual toleration and equality is not just in words but in the very construction of the site. The property is home to a mosque, church, and synagogue. In the spirit of equality, each building is constructed in the same stature and size and made of the same materials to avoid any appearance of hierarchy. 

As you walk through these houses of worship, you feel the enormity of each space and the reverence it offers to respective worshippers. The buildings’ dimensions and materials are the same, but the design of each building differentiates the uniqueness of each religion. For instance, each face of the mosque is held by seven pillars symbolizing the importance of the number seven in Islam. Likewise, the walls of the mosque are crafted with the mashrabiya design, a popular Arabic design that filters light into the building, casting an elegant shadow pattern. Meanwhile, the St. Francis church structure is columnized to filter light from the rising sun, which also symbolizes the incarnation and ascension of Jesus Christ. The synagogue is similarly designed, facing Jerusalem, with its pillars designed to mimic the palm structure used during the festival of shelter. Each building is composed not as some caricature of each religion but as an overture from one to another to stand united in humanity over and against extremism and hatred. The Abrahamic House is a unique site in a world divided by animus towards one's neighbor, and promotes healthy religious dialogue. The vision of a future-minded UAE seeks to bridge such divides, and the AFH is a step towards that future.