Greater than 3,600 individuals transformed to Islam in Dubai within the first half of 2025, whereas a whole bunch extra engaged with Islamic academic programmes and interactive initiatives, reflecting the rising impression of the town’s cultural outreach efforts.
Distinguished conversions and engagements in H1 2025
The Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Islamic Tradition, below the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Actions Division (IACAD) in Dubai, recorded a big enhance in conversions to Islam between January and June 2025. A complete of greater than 3,600 people embraced Islam throughout this six-month interval. Along with the conversions, the Centre noticed over 1,300 college students enroll in its numerous academic programmes. These initiatives are designed to supply structured studying about Islamic ideas and practices. Moreover, the Centre held 47 information and consciousness programs, benefiting greater than 1,400 contributors. These classes have been a part of its broader academic efforts geared toward selling values rooted in tolerance, cultural understanding, and spiritual information. One other key outreach initiative, the “Sustainable Data Room”, reached over 190 beneficiaries. This immersive, technology-integrated academic house was created to reinforce studying via interactive experiences. The Centre’s Director, Jassim Al Khazraji, emphasised the great mission of the establishment, which works past training to foster intercultural dialogue. “We work inside a complete imaginative and prescient geared toward constructing bridges of cultural and spiritual communication and presenting a shiny picture of Islam based mostly on tolerance, information, and dialogue, grounded in well-studied tutorial requirements that meet the wants of recent converts and people inquisitive about Islamic tradition alike,” he said.
The function and imaginative and prescient of IACAD
The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Actions Division (IACAD) is the governing authority behind Islamic and charitable efforts in Dubai. Established in 1969 by the late ruler HH Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, IACAD operates with the core goal of fostering non secular consciousness and Islamic values throughout the emirate. Its mission spans a large scope of duties, together with:
- Offering fatwa (non secular rulings) steerage
- Printing and distribution of the Holy Quran and Islamic literature
- Organising Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages
- Translating non secular texts
- Issuing licenses to Islamic non secular academics
The Division additionally manages mosques throughout Dubai in collaboration with the Awqaf and Minors Affairs Division, making certain non secular providers are performed in response to excessive requirements of integrity and group engagement.IACAD additionally gives a spread of digital providers via its official web site, together with:
- On-line non secular enquiries
- Steering for brand new Muslims
- A listing of all mosques in Dubai
- Prayer timings and Islamic vacation schedules
- Accreditation particulars for charitable organizations working in Dubai
Regulatory framework and increasing mandate
Underneath Regulation No. (2) of 2011, IACAD was formally restructured to outline its complete policy-making and regulatory features. The division’s expanded remit contains:
- Growing common insurance policies for Islamic and charitable work in Dubai
- Supervising manufacturing and distribution of non secular recordings and publications
- Authorising academic curricula associated to Islamic research
- Getting ready and approving the Hijri calendar
- Issuing licenses for:
- Charitable societies
- Quran memorization facilities
- Islamic establishments and analysis our bodies
- Non secular occasions, seminars, and exhibitions
In its supervisory function, IACAD oversees each administrative and monetary facets of licensed entities. The Division additionally coordinates Hajj and Umrah journey logistics in partnership with related UAE authorities. Moreover, it’s answerable for managing the fatwa system, selling Zakat consciousness, and making certain donations are used appropriately and legally. The Division’s evolution started with its founding because the Division of Endowments on October 24, 1969, later formalised below Regulation No. (7) of 1994, and in the end outlined below the present laws in 2011. Its mandate right now rests on three foundational pillars: charitable work, Islamic affairs, and mosque supervision.
Innovation in Islamic studying: The Sustainable Data Room
Amongst IACAD’s most notable academic improvements is the Sustainable Data Room, housed on the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Islamic Tradition. This mission represents a contemporary rethinking of how Islamic information is delivered, utilizing immersive applied sciences to reinforce accessibility and engagement. Designed as a 360-degree interactive digital setting, the Sustainable Data Room permits contributors to enter a completely immersive studying journey. The room integrates superior academic instruments with curated Islamic content material, providing a multisensory method to studying. Customers usually are not passive recipients; they expertise the fabric as energetic contributors, enhancing retention and impression. The Room is designed to cater to various audiences and age teams, with versatile purposes that embody:
- Academic workshops
- Coaching classes
- Non secular occasions
Its objective is to show summary information into tangible experiences, making non secular training extra participating, related, and accessible for all.