UAE to get first official synagogue by 2022

A multifaith complex that includes the United Arab Emirates' first official synagogue will be finished by 2022, the organization behind the construction said Sunday.

The church, mosque and synagogue will be part of the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

Read more: Germany: New synagogue opens in Regensburg, 80 years after Nazi-led pogrom

The intention to build the complex was announced in February when Pope Francis met with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, during his visit to the UAE. It was the first papal visit to the Arabian Peninsula.

"A church, mosque and synagogue will share a collective space for the first time, serving as a community for inter-religious dialogue and exchange, and nurturing the values of peaceful co-existence and acceptance among different beliefs, nationalities and cultures," the committee overseeing construction of the complex said in a statement.

Read more: Opinion: Pope Francis' UAE trip a historic milestone

Muslim UAE tries to present an image as a tolerant state supporting religious freedom and cultural diversity. However, the government accepts little dissent against the country's leadership and is criticized by human rights groups for jailing activists.

Although the synagogue will be the UAE's first, a small Jewish community of expatriates attend a house for private worship. 

The UAE does not have official relations with Israel, but Israeli politicians have recently attended events in the country as part of a broader behind-the-scenes diplomatic opening between the Jewish state and several Arab states.

Other official non-Muslim places of worship in the country include Christian churches, a Hindu temple and a Sikh Gurdwara.

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