Activities
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center organises several activities and events that encourage the Emirati youth to work in the field of cultural guidance. This is because the Center believes that the Emirati youth would be best at introducing guests and visitors to their national culture and heritage. This would also allow them to pursue a career for which they have been specifically trained.
Cultural Guidance Training Program (Ibn Al-Dar)
This program offers part-time positions for UAE nationals at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque for participants after completing a guide-training period where participants guide groups during cultural tours according to international standards of quality and performance, appropriate to the Center’s mission and objectives. A special panel evaluates their performance in order to encourage them to reach even higher levels.
It is worth noting that the training process is conducted by leading Emirati cultural guides who are affiliated to the Center and that 100% of the cultural guides are now Emirati citizens.
Junior Culture Guide Program
The Center designed this program with the aim of investing and directing young people’s abilities during summer vacation. This gives them access to career opportunities as cultural tour guides at large, and lets them know how to organize these tours inside the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
The Center issues a reference book to the program participants, which includes a detailed explanation of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s legacy, general information about the UAE, the traditions and customs of the local community and the aesthetics of Islamic architecture in the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. This aims at developing the apprentice’s skills, abilities and knowledge in the history and culture of the UAE. The apprentices also hone their skills in public speaking and communicating with others, and have the opportunity to learn about different cultures.