In August 2015, the UAE government announced the decision to provide land for building a Hindu mandir in Abu Dhabi, during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first official visit to the country.[5][6] Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Force gifted the land for the mandir.[1]
On 10 February 2018, BAPS representatives met Sheikh Mohamed and the Indian Prime Minister in the Presidential Palace.[7] A memorandum of understanding was signed by India and the UAE in the presence of the entire royal family and over 250 local leaders.[8] The Shila Pujan (foundation stone laying ceremony) for the mandir took place on 11 February 2018.[9] The Shila Pujan marked the first vedic step in the mandir's construction. Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed the ceremony via live stream from the Dubai Opera House.[10]
For the construction, tonnes of pink sandstone were sent from northern Rajasthan to Abu Dhabi.[11] The durable stones from the northern Indian state were selected for their ability to withstand scorching summer temperatures of up to 50 °C (122 °F), such as those sometimes experienced in the UAE. Marble from Europe may also be used to build the mandir.[12] The temple foundation will be constructed without using steel or iron materials and will be built through the traditional Hindu temple architecture. Instead of steel, fly ash will be used as a reinforcement in concrete[13]
In terms of size, it will be smaller than the Akshardham (Delhi) but similar to the Akshardham (New Jersey), with marble carvings against a sandstone building backdrop.[14]
Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony[edit]
The UAE Government as part of its year of tolerance program, allocated 14 more acres of land to BAPS Hindu Mandir in January 2019.[15]
On 20 April 2019, the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the first traditional Hindu mandir in Abu Dhabi was performed in the presence of thousands of Indian community people and officials from India and the UAE.[16] The ceremony was being administered as per Vedic rituals in the presence of Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha