Dubai: Residents of Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) are feeling inconvenienced due to lack of a mosque in their area. They have to take at least a 15-minute drive to reach the nearest mosque.
The ongoing issue, which is especially an annoyance during Friday prayers all year around, was felt more by residents during Ramadan, when more people go to mosques to offer five daily and Taraweeh prayers.
Most JVC residents drive around 8 kilometres to Bin Lahij Mosque, located in Al Barsha, to offer their prayers every day.
Developer Nakheel told Gulf News in 2016 that plans to build a mosque was in the pipeline and would be completed in 2017.
Egyptian resident Mustafa Mahmoud, said that there is small shaded room in the community where residents gather for daily prayers. “It is very small, and the space is not enough. During Ramadan it got very crowded especially at the time of Taraweeh prayers. The room has a small AC which doesn’t cool it properly when more people gather there to offer prayers. Many people like me are now going outside the community to offer prayers,” he said.
Jordanian resident Ahmad Sami said no construction work has started in the community to build a mosque, and the current available space for prayers is too small and unequipped for group prayers.
“The situation is very difficult, and our only alternative is to drive down to the closest mosque in Al Barsha, which has now also become very crowded. We desperately need a mosque in the community as soon as possible,” he told Gulf News.
With more 700 villas, and a population of 25,000, JVC is one of the fastest growing communities in Dubai, which does not have its own mosque yet.
Nakheel officials told Gulf News that plans to build a mosque are under way. “Three mosques are in the pipeline at Jumeirah Village Circle with the first being part of The Circle Mall complex, currently under construction. The other two are in design stage, with construction due to begin soon,” Nakheel said.
