Construction crews are busy across Dubai. Ten new endowment shopping centres are in the works, each designed to keep the city's mosques funded and maintained. The first, Al Khawaneej Mall, is already open. This marks a shift in how Dubai ties commercial growth to religious life. The city now has more than 1,400 mosques. Prayer spaces are everywhere, woven into the city's daily rhythm. Regional sector reports and Cities Insider both point to how deeply these sites shape Dubai's urban landscape.
The Dubai Endowments and Minors' Affairs Foundation has picked ten plots in different neighbourhoods for these malls. Nine more are under construction. Sites include Al Athba, four in Al Awir, plus Al Amardi, Nad Hessa, Madinat Hind, and Madinat Latifa. Each location is chosen to serve local residents with modern shops and services. The money from these centres will go straight to mosque upkeep and community needs. Federal laws set the rules for donations and endowments. Only licensed groups-registered charities and government-linked bodies-can collect and manage public funds. The Ministry of Community Empowerment spells out these requirements.
Modern investment replaces old ways
Ali Al Mutawa, Secretary General of the Foundation, says the new malls are a break from the old habit of attaching small shops to mosques. That old model didn't fit Dubai's modern image. Sometimes it even caused problems. Now, the city is putting more than AED 400 million into these new centres. Donors and philanthropists are backing the plan. They want their money to last. This fits with the UAE's bigger economic plans, including the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. That agenda pushes for sustainable city growth and new ways to fund public projects.
Building Al Khawaneej Mall cost between AED 40 and 45 million. The Foundation has also signed long-term deals with real estate developers. Five new endowment properties are on the way, worth AED 200 million. All profits will support Dubai's mosques and keep them financially secure. Recent coverage from Gulf Today and Emirates News Agency (WAM) shows just how big endowment activity has become. In 2026, a family endowment worth AED 1.6 billion was registered. That's a huge sum. It shows this funding model is strong in Dubai.
Community services and partnerships
These malls are more than just places to shop. The Foundation is working with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment, Dubai Municipality, and Dubai Parks. They want the centres close to public parks and packed with services for both locals and visitors. Some park areas will host service shops. This will bring in more income for mosque operations and Islamic affairs. Government agencies keep a close watch on these projects. They focus on transparency and long-term stability. The UAE General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments often stresses this in official updates. Gulf Today has covered these efforts in detail.
This isn't Dubai's first try at mixing community growth with new funding models. Other city projects have followed the same path, as reported earlier. The endowment mall programme shows Dubai is done with outdated fixes. The city is betting on modern investment to serve both business and community. It's a new standard. The size of the investment and the focus on long-term results make it clear: Dubai wants growth, but not at the cost of culture or social ties. The UAE Vision and ongoing regulatory reforms, led by federal ministries and the Central Bank, keep this balance in check. Other cities may soon follow Dubai's lead.
