BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi

BAPS Hindu Mandir
BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
Sect	BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha
Region	Abu Dhabi
Deity	Akshar Purushottam[1]
Location
Country	United Arab Emirates
Geographic coordinates	24°36′59.4″N 54°43′54.7″E / 24.616500°N 54.731861°E / 24.616500; 54.731861
Architecture
Founder	Mahant Swami Maharaj
Completed	14 February 2024
Site area	27 acre[2]
Website
mandir.ae

The BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi in the UAE, is a traditional Hindu mandir built by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. Inspired by Pramukh Swami Maharaj (1921–2016) and consecrated by Mahant Swami Maharaj on 14 February 2024, this is the first traditional Hindu mandir in Abu Dhabi.

In 1997, Pramukh Swami Maharaj envisioned a mandir in Abu Dhabi. In August 2015, the UAE government announced they would provide the land for the mandir. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, gifted 27 acres of land for the mandir. In September 2019 the mandir gained legal status, and in December 2019, the construction commenced. The mandir is constructed from pink sandstone from northern Rajasthan and marble from Italy. The mandir stands 108 feet tall, 262 feet in length and 180 feet in width. Over 200 volunteers from the UAE, Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, India, and other Gulf countries dedicated more than 690,000 hours towards the construction. This is the first Hindu stone mandir to undergo complete digital modeling and seismic simulations during the construction process.^[3]

The mandir is a symbol of interfaith harmony, representing the UAE's and India’s good relations to foster understanding, acceptance, and unity among people of different religious backgrounds. Accordingly, the mandir carvings not only incorporate stories from the Ramayana, Shiva Purana, Bhagavatam, Mahabharata, and the lives of Hindu figures, but also stories from Arabian, Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Native American, and other civilizations. The mandir complex includes the traditional Hindu mandir, a visitor centre, prayer halls, exhibitions, learning areas, a sports area for children, thematic gardens, water features, a food court, and a gift shop.