Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Welcoming the world to a place of peace and harmony, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre (SZGMC) brought together people of diverse faiths and cultures in the spirit of Ramadan as it hosted its annual Jusoor (Bridges) programme.
Now in its sixth edition, Jusoor invited residents from different backgrounds to experience the traditions of Ramadan at the iconic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Participants volunteered in distributing iftar meals and witnessed the time-honoured cannon-firing tradition.
The experience was capped with an iftar, where guests gather around tables in a setting that reflects the UAE’s values of tolerance, coexistence, and community.
Among those who took part in this year’s event were diplomats and foreign dignitaries, some of whom return to Jusoor year after year.
For Ridwaan Jadwat, the Australian Ambassador to the UAE, coming to the gathering has become a family tradition.
“My family and I absolutely love coming for the Jusoor programme here at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. It honours the spirit of giving, compassion and togetherness, and that is what Ramadan is all about, bringing people together across different faith groups,” Jadwat told Aletihad.
There’s always a “very special feeling” throughout the experience, he added. “We feel so connected with members of the community from different countries and cultures.”
He praised the programme for bringing UAE values to life. The spirit of compassion, tolerance, and togetherness represented by the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is beautifully embodied in Jusoor, he said.
John Kowalski, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission for the US Mission to the UAE, said this atmosphere of tolerance and peace made the experience particularly meaningful.
“I cannot think of a greater honour during my service time here in the UAE than to be invited and be part of Jusoor at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque,” he said.
Maura Pfeifer, Spokesperson for the US Mission to the UAE, highlighted the programme’s role in building connections.
“This is such a wonderful opportunity because it reflects the spirit of generosity at the heart of Ramadan and gives us a chance to build bridges between the American people, the Emirati people, and visitors from around the world.”
Rohan Kembhavi, First Secretary at the Embassy of Canada to the UAE, attended the event for the first time and found it inspiring and humbling.
He said seeing people from around the world come together highlighted the power of service and community. “I hope we can all demonstrate the same spirit in our day-to-day lives during the UAE’s Year of Family.”
For Natalia Al Mansour, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the UAE, Jusoor represented “sharing, community and harmony.”
“It is my second time attending the event, and I can see that it continues to grow and remains an exceptional project,” said Al Mansour, who came with her family.
“Ramadan is also a month of gathering with the family. It shows the beauty of Islam and the generosity and sharing that define the spirit of Ramadan,” she added.
