Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim.

Your Excellencies,
Your Worship,
Distinguished Scholars and Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

Madam Prime Minister,
Your Excellencies,
Your Worship the Mayor,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a very great pleasure for us to welcome you, Madam Prime Minister, and so distinguished a gathering for a ceremony which is a most significant one for the Ismaili community: significant because this is the first cultural and religious centre in the Western world to have been built specifically for the community's requirements.

Ismaili Muslims hire rising architect Farshid Moussavi to design first U.S. cultural center in Houston

Molly Glentzer Feb. 6, 2019 Updated: Feb. 6, 2019 6:52 a.m.

The vacant lot along Montrose Boulevard at Allen Parkway is planned as the future site of the Ismaili Center near downtown Houston along Buffalo Bayou, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019.Photo: Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Your Excellency President Rahmonov,
Your Worship the Mayor of Dushanbe,
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,

Today's ceremony represents a milestone in the history of the Ismaili Muslim community's presence in Central Asia, a presence which dates back to the second century of Islam. For me personally, as the 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismailis, this is a day of great happiness.

It is also fitting that the Foundation Ceremony of a landmark cultural and religious centre should coincide with the celebration of the one thousandth anniversary of the birth of Syedna Nasir-i-Khusraw.

His Highness the Aga Khan at the Opening Ceremony of Ismaili Center Dushanbe

Bismi-Llahi-R-Rahamani-R-Rahim

Your Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum
Your Excellencies
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

I am deeply honoured by your presence this morning.

Nestled in one of Bur Dubai's older districts is one of the emirate's best kept architectural secrets: the Ismaili Centre of Dubai. It is a 13,000-square-metre structure designed by the Egyptian duo Rami El Dahan and Soheir Farid, who drew inspiration from Cairo's Fatimid mosques.

The structure was inaugurated in 2008 by Prince Karim, the Aga Khan, in the presence of senior UAE officials. A 3,000-square-metre public neighbourhood park was also created on parts of the land based on Islamic garden themes. The architecture is an amalgamation of everything that is beautiful in Islam.

An artist's rendering shows the pools in the formal garden.