Kamal Ghorui
The UAE Ministry of Defence recently announced on April 9, 2026, that the country’s skies were free from aerial threats after 40 days of war. Now, religious institutions that had been closed for a limited period of time due to the regional tensions have been reopened for the general public. BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi has announced that it will reopen its doors to the public from Tuesday, April 14. In a post shared on Instagram, the temple welcomed visitors back while asking them to register in advance via Mandir.ae/visit or through the BAPS Mandir App. The temple will remain open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 8 pm. “Please come with all your faith, all your hopes and all your prayers for your families, your friends, our future and the able, stable and commendable leadership of the UAE and all the wise leaders of the world who believe in love, peace and harmony. Let us be one, for one nation, one world, one humanity,” said the caption of the post.“The mandir is our home in a nation where everyone feels at home, calm and content, safe and peaceful” said Swami Brahmaviharidas, Head of BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, while adding that the temple looks forward to welcoming one and all. The announcement comes along with the reopening of other places of worship following a brief period of closure due to safety concerns amid the US-Israel-Iran war. On Saturday, April 11, Dubai’s Shri Krishna Temple, St Mary’s Church and Guru Nanak Darbar reopened their doors to devotees, announcing timings and urging visitors to adhere to safety guidelines. The Hindu Temple in the city also resumed its services on Friday, announcing daily structured schedules of rituals. The temple announced it is open daily from 6 am to 6 pm, with specific time slots for darshan and poojas. Earlier, places of worship across Dubai were asked to move activities online until further notice as a precautionary measure due to ongoing regional tensions. Churches cancelled masses while temples and gurudwaras announced closure of the premises. However, since no drones or missiles were detected from Iran, the reopening of the places of worship was initiated. This also marks a return to the normal, routine life in Dubai where authorities have been balancing public safety with community needs. Earlier, there had been rumours about life in the country being disrupted and tourism being low, but officials have squashed all misinformation and invited tourists from across the globe to come visit the UAE as they do every year.
