First ever Gurudwara in whole of Middle East

Surender Singh Kandhari, Dubai- based industrialist who was pursuing the matter with Dubai government to have gurdwara for long time, got permission for building of the gurudwara. In April 2010, NRIs in Dubai will celebrate Baisakhi.
Mr. Kandhari said:

• We really appreciate and thankful to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Makhtoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE, who grant permission for building of the gurudwara and provided 25400 square feet of land free for the community. It was very hard to explain to the officials of the Islamic Affairs Ministry even the idea of sangat and langar.
• We told them Sikhs didn't worship idols , like in Islam, and how the idea of the equality of man was inherent n Sikhism. We had to translate excerpts from Gugu Granth Sahib and read out to them and never be anti-Islam.
• Guru Nanak Darbar is fast rising from the sands of Dubai and it would be the first official Sikh temple in the whole of Gulf and calls, "a dream project"
• The whole project cost will be an approx US$ 20 million.
• The Gurudwara with a 125,000 square feet built-up area has three basements, a ground floor and a terrace floor.
• The langer hall will serve more than 600 people at a time. There is a 54-metre water body, inspired by
  the sarovar at the Golden Temple and a cascade.
• The function hall can accommodate up to 900 people.
• The Palki Sahib, has a 7.2 metre high ceiling and 18-metre diameter dome roof.
• For construction, the architects visit the Gurudwaras around the world.
• Now you know why Dubai is so special. And why Guru Nanak Darbar is special. Our dream is to make it the best after Golden Temple in Amritsar

We are seeking funds from the entire Sikh Community all over the world to fulfill a Sikh dream. The Sikh community of UAE numbers approximately 50,000. The donations are coming from Uk, USA and Canada and we do need more support for the Gurudwara.
SGPC secretary said:

• The gurdwara will function as per the code of conduct laid down by the SGPC.
• Our jathas will keep going there for spreading the values of the Sikh religion
• We will extend all possible help. So far there's no demand for finances for building the gurdwara.

UK based Richard Adams who was involved with the Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara on the Havelock Road in Southall, London will support Dubai based architect firm Holford Associates to constuct this Gurdwara. Holdford Associates constructed 25 temples including 20 churches, four mosques and one temple
Mr. Surender Singh Kandhari, chairman of Al Dobowi group, a global player in the tire management industry with operations in Middle East, South Asia and Europe. He is the Captain of the prestigious Emirates Golf Club in Dubai. rope.
Dubai is one of the seven emirates and its main revenues are from tourism, real estate and financial services. Dubai has been ruled by the Al Maktoum dynasty since 1833. It has been builted with the revenues from natural gas and petroleum. It shares about 6% of 37 billion emirate's economy