Dubai is the largest and most populated city in the Middle Eastern country known as the United Arab Emirates (UAB). As such, it is likely to be highly representative of the country as a whole. An examination of the religion of the whole country would, therefore, be useful for understanding the religious breakdown of the city itself.
Islam is Dubai’s official religion, and information gleaned from the Pew Research Center shows that approximately 76% of the UAB population practices it. Most of the people living in the UAB (and, thus, most likely Dubai) who do not practice Islam practice Christianity (about 13%), with smaller percentages practicing Hinduism (about 7%), Buddhism (2%), and other or no religion (about 2%).
From this information, we can see that most people living in Dubai are either Muslims or Christians.
FURTHER READING: http://globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/united-arab-emirates/religious_demography#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2010
Dubai is a large, modern city in the UAE (United Arab Emirates). The primary religion is Islam. According to the 2005 census, approximately 76% of the population of the UAE is Muslim, which is the term for a person who follows the religion of Islam.
Muhammad was the founder of Islam. He lived in two towns, Medina and Mecca, in the central Saudi Arabian desert on the Saudi Arabian peninsula. This peninsula is now predominated by the large country of Saudi Arabia. The UAE is located on that same peninsula. In the late 500s AD, after Muhammad is said to have received his revelations from Angel Gabriel, he set about to establish and spread his new faith, which was dominated by the belief that there was one God. During his time, many of the people living in this desert were polytheistic, which means that they believed in many gods. They lived in tribes that often warred over land, animal, and water rights. In order to spread the faith and the peace that he envisioned the faith would bring, Muhammad often had to battle these tribes. But over time, he gained many followers who were drawn to his message, and he conquered territory after territory. By the time of his death in 632, he had conquered almost the entire Saudi Arabian peninsula, which includes the territory that is now the UAE. These lands also adopted the faith of Islam.
Subsequent Muslim dynasties continued the expansion into Northern Africa and even into the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Spain and Portugal).
The next dominant religion in Dubai is Christianity, which accounts for 13% of the population of the UAE according to the 2005 census.
Albeit there being many nationalities and religions apparent and thriving in Dubai, Islam is and has remained the official religion of the United Arab Emirates. Islam is innately tied to the moral and cultural fabrics of daily life in Dubai.
Walking along the streets of Dubai, perusing the lively markets in search of the perfect roti, you might come across a couple of churches and/or temples, but most likely you’ll be enamored by the the colossal and mesmerizing architecture of the mosques, apparent and integral to daily life in Islam. From dawn to dusk, you will see devout Muslims walking to prayer five times a day, as followed in the Qur’an.
Qu’ran, regarded as the central religious text of Islam has fundamental importance to the daily structure of life in Dubai as it is considered to be directly from God’s word. Those adhering to Islam, find moral standing, rules of conduct and etiquette in the Qu’ran. There are five pillars that are absolutely elemental in Islam: faith (iman); specifically the belief that there is no God but Allah, and that Mohammed is God’s prophet, prayer (salah or salat); done zealously five times a day, charity( zakat); donating a 40th of the value of your annual assets, fasting (sawm); the ability to give up food, drink and smoke (most importantly in public) during Ramadan holiday from sunrise to sunset, and lastly pilgrimage (hajj or haj); once in a lifetime a Muslim is expected to make a trip to Mecca, resulting in a forgiveness of all sins. Life under Islam is focused on fulfilling moral and cultural obligations under the Qu’ran which results in a life highlighting importance on family, children and philanthropic.
Dubai, the largest city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is home to 160 different nationalities and a variety of religions. Islam is the official religion of Dubai, but the city is very tolerant of other religions and is home to churches and temples as well as mosques.
Laws in Dubai dictate that all residents must be respectful of the rules of Islam. State holidays are based on the Islamic calendar, and special rules apply in the month of Ramadan. Since Ramadan requires fasting during the daytime, restaurants are mostly closed and eating or drinking in public during those hours is illegal.
The call to prayer is broadcast throughout the city. Men and women dress conservatively, drinking in public is forbidden, and public displays of affection are not allowed. These statutes follow the laws of Islam, allowing Muslim residents of the city to feel comfortable in practicing their religion in the open.
Prayer rooms are available in every public space in the city so that Muslims can stop to pray five times daily. Employment law in Dubai requires employers to allow employees a 30-day unpaid leave each year for Hajj (a trip to Mecca) if they choose to pursue it.
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