Day Outing

Sunday turned out to be a mix of culture, faith, and a lot of walking.

Okay, today is going to be a longer blog since I decided to spend most of Saturday on marking and prep and Sunday on a day trip. I went to two places: the Abrahamic Family House, which was quite phenomenal, and then, across the road (by taxi in this heat), to the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

The Abrahamic Family House is a remarkable interfaith complex that brings together a mosque, a church, and a synagogue in one shared space. Each place of worship is distinct in its design and character, yet they are connected by a central forum that symbolises dialogue, respect, and shared values. Walking into the complex, you immediately sense the calm and the intention behind it — a physical expression of tolerance and coexistence in the UAE. The architecture itself is striking: clean lines, natural light, and carefully chosen materials that give each building dignity while maintaining harmony with the others. What impressed me most was how it doesn’t feel like three separate places forced together, but rather one cohesive vision where people of different faiths can worship, reflect, and meet.

Fountain with sounds and ever changing religious phrases at common place in Abrhamic house.

Inside the Mosque. All three worship buildings are a cube of 30m x 30m x 30m

Adding to this experience, there is a constant sound effect that subtly matches the mood of the space. From the gurgling fountain at the centre of the complex — symbolising how water is a unifying theme across all faiths — to the walk-through projection displays, where at any time Jewish, Arabic, or English passages from each sacred text are read aloud, the atmosphere is deeply immersive. The readings are accompanied by a well-blended background of gentle, new-age-style meditation music that creates a sense of reflection and serenity, perfectly in tune with the spirit of the place.

Inside the Synagogue. All three worship houses are active. Note the 10 commandments on the far wall.

One of the projected exhibits. Constantly revolving between the three religions with visuals and sound to suit .

On the tour I booked, we were able to visit the mosque and the synagogue, as neither was hosting a service at the time, and both were astonishing in their individual architecture. Since a mass was taking place, the group could not enter the church. However, I managed to slip in as a “believer” and join the mass. Unfortunately, I couldn’t take pictures there — decorum and all — but the experience was meaningful. So yes… I went to mass today.

Another of the projected exhibits. Constantly revolving between the three religions with visuals and sound to suit .

Outside the church. Water features like the one in the foreground permeate the complex.

Entry to the Abrahamic Family House is absolutely free; you just need to book in advance. Because of the heat, the roof garden was closed to the public, though it will reopen in winter (well, as close to winter as they get here!).

From there, I made my way to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, which is just across the road, though in this weather a short taxi ride was the sensible choice. The museum is a masterpiece in its own right — not just in the art it houses but in the design of the building itself. The iconic dome, with its intricate latticework, filters sunlight in a way that creates a “rain of light,” making the walkways and galleries feel both majestic and serene.

Inside the huge latticed Dome of the Abu Dhabi Louvre. This pictures belies the size it was takien in the midle from one side. Behind me it goes on.

Me and my Old pal Rameses.

So as far as steps go, I got in a week’s worth just walking through it all. The displays were authentic and thoughtfully presented. As described, the permanent collection is organized by time periods rather than by individual cultures, which gives you a fascinating perspective. You see what Europeans and Africans were creating and thinking at the same time as events were unfolding in the Middle East, Asia, or the Americas. It’s less about highlighting divisions and more about showing the rhythm of human history as a shared journey.

I like this image taken from inside the main exhibit route. It is “ghost Me” and the pigeon in the picture just happenned to fly in as I took the picture.

Just another sarcophagus. There is so much to be seen here. Just dont buy beverages or trinkets. They price the same as the art work.

By the end of the day, I left feeling both inspired and grateful — inspired by the vision of peaceful coexistence at the Abrahamic Family House and grateful for the reminder at the Louvre that, despite our different origins, our stories are deeply interconnected.