Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre weaves cultural bridges across Switzerland

A delegation from Abu Dhabi's revered architectural landmark continues its global mission of civilisational dialogue, presenting the Mosque's message of coexistence and tolerance to Swiss institutions and audiences through architecture, photography and scholarship.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre has deepened its cultural presence in Switzerland, extending its “Jusoor” programme across the country’s most distinguished institutions. From the Academy of Architecture in Mendrisio to the headquarters of the Universal Postal Union in Bern, the initiative demonstrates how architecture and the arts serve as universal languages capable of bridging civilisations and fostering understanding among peoples.

In Bern, the Centre unveiled an architectural model of the Mosque within the Rowland Hill Room at UPU headquarters, a United Nations specialised agency. This gesture forms part of a larger initiative that began in 2012 in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has seen more than 22 models of the Mosque presented at UAE embassies and cultural institutions across the world. Each model carries the same message: that within the Mosque, the artistic traditions of different civilisations converge in harmonious expression, embodying values of coexistence and mutual respect.

Dr Yousif Alobaidli, Director General of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, travelled to Switzerland to present a working paper at the Academy of Architecture titled “Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre: A Place for All”. The paper explored how the Mosque functions as a religious, cultural and civilisational landmark, examining the architectural and artistic traditions that meet within its walls. As the Academy specialises in architectural study, the presentation emphasised how the Mosque’s design serves as a living classroom for international students, enriching their understanding of Islamic art and architectural heritage through firsthand experience.

Accompanying the scholarly presentation was the mobile exhibition of the “Spaces of Light Photography Award”, displayed at the Academy. The photographic journey offered visual exploration of the Mosque’s architectural details and artistic expressions, presenting through imagery what the paper articulated through scholarship: that Islamic architecture embodies profound humanitarian and cultural values. The exhibition will travel onward to the UAE Embassy in Switzerland, where it will feature in future diplomatic and cultural events.

As we reported in our coverage of this initiative, the Centre’s engagement with Swiss cultural institutions reflects a carefully considered approach to cultural diplomacy. Dr Alobaidli presented selections of the Centre’s specialised publications on Islamic architecture and arts to the university library at Università della Svizzera italiana, establishing lasting scholarly resources for students and researchers.

The delegation’s meetings extended across Swiss cultural and interfaith circles, including engagements with the Swiss Association for Interfaith Dialogue, the Swiss Federal Office of Culture, and representatives of the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union. These conversations revealed the depth of Switzerland’s commitment to cultural exchange and interfaith understanding, qualities that align seamlessly with the Centre’s mission. A visit to Kunsthaus Zürich further reinforced connections between Abu Dhabi’s cultural institutions and Europe’s artistic guardianship.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The Mosque Centre’s Swiss engagement represents an expansion of Abu Dhabi’s cultural soft power and its role as a voice for dialogue and tolerance in global affairs. Through architecture, photography and scholarship, the emirate communicates its civilisational values not as abstract principles but as lived realities embodied in one of the world’s most significant religious and cultural landmarks. This approach positions Abu Dhabi as a centre of cultural understanding whose influence extends far beyond its borders.

For Abu Dhabi residents and visitors, these initiatives reinforce the Mosque’s significance as a global ambassador for the UAE’s values. Each presentation, exhibition and scholarly engagement demonstrates how the emirate’s heritage and contemporary cultural identity serve the broader human project of fostering respect, understanding and peaceful coexistence among all peoples. The work continues to position Abu Dhabi at the forefront of international cultural dialogue and civilisational engagement.

Source: WAM