BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi
BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi
BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi is a traditional Hindu temple built by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It is the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East and was consecrated on 14 February 2024 by Mahant Swami Maharaj, in a ceremony attended by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The temple sits on 27 acres of land donated by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, with space for parking and the temple complex.
The temple is made from pink sandstone from Rajasthan and interior white Italian marble. It stands 108 feet tall and measures 262 feet in length and 180 feet in width. The complex was designed to be earthquake-resistant and used digital modeling and seismic simulations during construction. It features more than 25,000 stone pieces carved by artisans in India and is supported by hundreds of sensors to monitor safety and environment.
Inside, there are seven shrines:
- The central shrine houses Swaminarayan and Gunatitanand Swami (Akshar-Purushottam).
- A shrine for Krishna and Radha.
- A shrine for Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman.
- A shrine for Shiva and Parvati, with Ganesha and Kartikeya.
- A shrine for Venkateshwara (Srinivasa) and Padmavati.
- A shrine for Jagannath with his siblings.
- A shrine for Ayyappan.
The temple complex also includes a visitor centre, prayer halls, exhibitions, learning areas, a sports area for children, gardens, water features, a food court, and a gift shop. It features an immersive experience called The Fairy Tale and a notable Wall of Harmony, created with help from the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community.
Since opening, the mandir has become a symbol of interfaith harmony and strong UAE-India relations, hosting diplomatic and cultural events with visitors from many countries. To handle large numbers of visitors, a pre-registration system was introduced.
Awards and recognition include the MEED Project Award for Best Cultural Project Across MENA 2024 and Best Cultural Project in the UAE, as well as the MONDO-DR 2025 Award for its immersive show. The temple has welcomed millions of visitors in its first year and continues to serve as a cultural and spiritual hub for people of all backgrounds.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 00:47 (CET).