If you are living in Dubai or the United Arab Emirates and looking for a Friday Khutbah in English, it can be challenging to find the right mosque for your needs. Fortunately, we have done the legwork for you in finding mosques that provide this service. From traditional mosques to modern Islamic centres, these are some of our favourite places to attend a sermon in English or listen online if we can’t make it in person.
I’ve asked if there are any more services being done in English in 2023 however it seems no other mosques are doing English sermons and there still seems to be a lack of awareness of English sermons within the community. If you do find any more or happen to come across one, please do let me know!
If one of these mosques isn’t close to you, you can also listen to Juma Khutbahs available online in English, Arabic and Urdu as the sermons are standardised across the UAE. Also if you attend in person but the Imam is delivering in Arabic, you can also use this website to read along in English or Urdu.
Aisha Mosque / Masjid Aisha Umm Al Mu’ameneen
Jumeirah 3
The Friday sermon is delivered entirely in English and is very popular. The ladies’ prayer hall was so busy some had to stand in the hallway. So definitely you need to get there early since the parking gets full. The ladies’ room isn’t that large so that is another reason why it gets full quickly.
Saeed Mosque / Masjid Saeed Bin Youha
Jumeirah 3
This small mosque is easy to miss on Jumeirah Beach Road and all the signs are in Arabic so you may think you’re in the wrong mosque for an English Friday sermon. This one despite being smaller wasn’t as busy as the Aisha mosque and the entire sermon is done in English, not just a summary. The ladies’ section isn’t that large but fewer people seem to attend. It is also easier for parking, making it one of my favourites. The Imam’s English is very good.
Palm Jumeirah Mosque / Masjid Abdulrahman Al Siddiq
Palm Jumeirah
Sadly this one is no longer doing a khutbah in English, only Arabic.
Commonly referred to as the Palm Jumeirah mosque due to its location and is well known for its iconic modern architecture. This lovely mosque offers its Friday sermon in English and really has a whole mix of nationalities in attendance. The ladies’ section is quite large also, so it’s really a shame they aren’t doing the khutbah in English anymore.
For the parking, I’ve found it’s best to Park at The Pointe as their multi-storey car park is right next to the mosque. So you can easily park there where there is much more parking available and walk down to the mosque.
The Marina Mosque / Masjid Mohammed Bin Ahmed Almulla
Dubai Marina
It’s hard to miss this mosque at night with its shiny gold domes and blue uplights. It’s definitely an iconic part of Dubai Marina. This pretty mosque delivers a sermon in Arabic and then does a five-minute summary in English at the end (not a full sermon).
Be warned though, this mosque is very popular and all the surrounding roads will be covered in parked cars. So get there early or park nearby and walk. The ladies’ section is a really good size but a little bit of a maze when you go there for the first time.
In addition, this mosque is also open to the public and allows tours for those who are curious.
Al Samad Mosque / Masjid Al Samad (Close to Meadows Souq)
Meadows
This mosque first completes the sermon in Arabic, including finishing the prayer and then they do a separate khutbah in English. The Imam is fluent in English and they deliver a full in-depth sermon. The women’s section is pretty large so you’ll easily find space to sit.
Like many of the others, the parking gets very busy so you definitely need to get there early to find parking. Also while the English sermon is done brilliantly, sadly due to it being after the Arabic sermon, it can be pretty noisy while everyone leaves and I’ve found it hard to hear the beginning of the sermon due to the noise.
Al Manar Centre / Al Manar Quran Study Centre
Al Quoz
I haven’t yet had a chance to go personally but Sheikh Ayaz regularly taught at my Islamic centre and is very knowledgeable with perfect English! You can watch one of his sermons above. Al Manar has also had famous Islamic scholars such as Mufti Menk deliver the khutbah in the past.
The centre is very actively involved in the community delivering lessons and lectures in English. You’ll find many famous names in the Muslim community coming here to speak from time to time, so it’s definitely worth a visit.
When I briefly caught the end of a sermon, I could see a lot of families sat at the back. So I’d highly recommend this one if you have children.
Masjid Tamim Ad-Dari
Muhaisnah 4
I recently asked a friend who lived nearby if they knew of any masjids doing services in English but she said no. So I still haven’t had the chance to pop to this one to find out but a while ago I was told they deliver an English sermon after the Friday prayer. So the Arabic khutba is first, then prayer and then a second English sermon.
There are reviews for the Masjid from a year ago confirming the Friday prayer is in English and good reviews of the sermons.
Can I visit a mosque or attend the Juma khutbah if I’m not Muslim?
You are able to visit a mosque/masjid even if you’re not a Muslim. You can simply take a seat at the back and listen to the sermon and watch the prayers. If you’re curious and would like a formal tour; the mosque in Dubai Marina, as mentioned above, offers regular tours for those who are curious to learn.
However be aware if you are female, it’s best not to sit in the mosque during your period as women do not pray during this time and it’s advised by the majority of scholars to not attend during this time.
For more information about visiting a mosque for the first time and etiquette you should know.
How long is the Friday Khutbah?
The length of the Juma Khutba service varies from mosque to mosque however in UAE they are generally more uniform than in other countries. Generally, the Friday Khutbah can range from 10 to 20 minutes depending on the Imam speaking that day plus the prayer time. So it usually takes around 30 minutes in total plus allowing for extra time to park or if you need to do wudhu.
What is the Friday sermon translation initiative?
Since 2018 The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (GAIAE) began a mobile application initiative to provide translations of Friday sermons in UAE mosques into multiple languages; primarily English and Urdu. This ambitious project is aimed at making the content of Juma Khutba services more accessible to non-Arabic speakers and creating a better understanding of the teachings of Islam in UAE.
Check out my other helpful articles before you go:
Guide to mosque etiquette and visiting a mosque for the first time
Tips for praying at work and how to fit in your salah
Why do women wear hijab? 10 reasons from Muslim women themselves
How to convert to Islam in Dubai; the process and paperwork
Spending Ramadan in Dubai and what it’s like
So that are all the mosques/masjids that I’ve come across that do a sermon in English or have an explanation in English afterwards. If you know of any more then let me know in the comments below.
3 comments
Peace, Spirituality and harmony. I cannot define the quantity of spirituality I felt right from the ablution room to the prayer hall by itself. It is made on the model of Ottoman’s Blue Mosque in Istanbul. You have to visit this for an evening prayer and experience the peace all by yourself.
I would love to visit it one day, it’s for sure on my travel list 🙂
Every single masjid offers peace and tranquility to those who worship Allah within its sanctified confinement. This includes the masaajid that were bombed by democratic armies in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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