Jumeirah Mosque

The Jumeirah Mosque is a beautiful building in central Dubai, and one of the most photographed landmarks in the city. It's the only mosque in Dubai that is open to the public, and in fact specially caters for non-Muslim visitors, making it an ideal visit if you'd like to learn more about the Islamic religion and how it is practised in Dubai. It's also simply a spectacular building to explore, with intricate arches and crystal chandeliers.

It's actually very easy to take a tour around the Jumeirah Mosque. No booking ahead is required, and the fee is reasonable at only 10 AED per person, with tourists even allowed to take pictures while inside the building. Be respectful of the religion however - modest dress is appreciated; that means women need to cover their legs, arms and head, and men need to wear trousers and something more than a vest. Don't worry if you arrive unprepared - traditional attire can be borrowed from the mosque.

The length of the tour is around an hour and a half, and you'll get to ask any questions you have about the mosque or Islam at the Q&A session at the end. Tours are run by the 'Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding' as part of their Open Doors, Open Minds policy, and take place every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at 10am - it's a good idea to arrive 10 minutes early.