Official religion
Islam is the official religion of the UAE. Other religions are practised freely in the UAE.
General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments (GAIAE)
General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments (GAIAE) was established in 2006 aiming to be a global Islamic reference and a sustainable Waqf (endowment) development powerhouse.
GAIAE works on promoting religious awareness, developing mosques and Quranic centres, managing Hajj and Umrah, developing Waqf and crafting innovative smart systems for the happiness of the community.
Other entities handling Islamic affairs
Zakat Fund
Zakat Fund was established by virtue of the Federal Law No. 4 of 2003 issued by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan on 15 November 2003. The fund specialises in the service of Zakat through spreading awareness thereof, developing resources to procure more Zakat, accepting Zakat and spending it in the channels specified by Sharia in order to achieve social development in the UAE.
Zayed House for Islamic Culture (ZHIC)
Zayed House for Islamic Culture (ZHIC) was founded by Decree No. 10 of the year 2005, issued by the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. ZHIC is an Islamic cultural organisation that pays great attention to the rightly guided new Muslims, providing them with maximum care, enlightening them with the Islamic culture, as well as trying to absorb them in the Muslim society.
Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department
Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department determines the overall policy of the Islamic affairs and charitable works in Dubai, spreads Islamic knowledge and culture, raises religious awareness across the community, reviews and prints the Holy Qur'an, religious publications and multimedia and issues licences for their distribution.
Endowments' and Minors' Funds Authority (Awqaf Abu Dhabi)
Awqaf Abu Dhabi manages the affairs of endowments within the emirate of Abu Dhabi. This includes inventorying, supervising, organising and monitoring endowments, as well as providing the necessary permissions for endowment institutions in the emirate. It develops, invests and preserves the endowments’ and minors’ funds.
Endowment and Minors' Trust Foundation (AWQAF DUBAI)
Endowment and Minors' Trust Foundation in Dubai is responsible for the legal supervision over the Awqaf, its care and investment, as well as the well-being of minors. It manages and invests such money through an Islamic perspective in full Sharia compliance as well as cares and empowers such minors.
Islamic entities in the Northern Emirates:
- Department of Awqaf -Sharjah Government
For more information about religious affairs in the UAE, refer to below links:
Updated On :
29 Oct 2024
