


Year Built
2012 CE
Period
Contemporary
Architectural Style
Warehouse-to-Temple Conversion with Swaminarayan Aesthetic
Built By
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha
Material Used
Reinforced Concrete Warehouse Frame, Acoustic Panels, Fibre-Reinforced Sinhasan, Teak, Marble, LED Lighting, Digital AV
Heritage Status
Registered cultural/religious centre with Dubai & Sharjah authorities; functions as official BAPS UAE headquarters pre-Abu Dhabi mandir.
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Sharjah Sabha Mandir) has served as the Gulf's earliest Swaminarayan satsang centre since 2012, transforming a two-storey warehouse into a marble-lined mandir and cultural hub for weekly assemblies, bal-balika classes, youth leadership, and seva campaigns long before the grand Abu Dhabi mandir opened ([1][2]). The facility features a 400-seat assembly hall adorned with hand-carved teak murtis of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Guru Parampara, a women's sabha mezzanine, classrooms, a community kitchen, and a satsang resource library. The sanctum front (sinhasan) is fabricated in Ahmedabad from fibre-reinforced composites over gold-leaf accents, while the hall is wrapped in white acoustic panels and LED lighting capable of broadcasting live to global BAPS networks. Daily darshan takes place 6:00 AM-9:00 AM and 6:00 PM-9:00 PM; however the centre's heart is the Friday evening satsang assembly which includes kirtans, vicharan (discourses), Gujarati/Sanskrit classes, and seva planning. Volunteers run youth-driven projects such as blood donation drives, beach clean-ups, wellbeing seminars, and disaster relief kits in partnership with UAE authorities.
BAPS initiated Gulf satsang in late 1990s; Sharjah warehouse purchased 2010; renovation completed and inaugurated by senior sadhu Mahant Swami Maharaj (then Keshavjivandas Swami) in 2012. The mandir hosted the region's first Yuva Shibir (2015), Suhradam Show (2017), and served as remote broadcast hub for online satsang during COVID-19. Volunteers supported Expo 2020 seva, Pakistan/India flood relief, and UAE humanitarian campaigns.



Major upgrades: 2015 women's sabha mezzanine, 2017 AV overhaul, 2019 VRF HVAC, 2021 studio redesign, 2023 digital seva portal integration.
Community donors; support from BAPS Global Charity crew
The building retains the reinforced concrete warehouse shell but adds insulated walls, acoustic ceilings, and raised floors for cable management. The sanctum employs a prefabricated sinhasan delivered from India, installed on a granite pedestal anchored to the slab. The mezzanine is supported by steel beams added during renovation. AV infrastructure includes 4K cameras, broadcast mixers, and distributed speakers. A commercial kitchen uses stainless-steel counters to support annakut offerings. ([1][3])
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Renovation involved structural assessment, external cladding, installation of gypsum ceilings, and acoustic treatment. Digital upgrades integrate real-time translation headsets, multi-camera switching, and RFID-based attendee tracking for seva allocation. Energy-efficient VRF units replaced older split AC systems in 2019.
25.307500, 55.423800
{"notes":"ID required; modest attire; separate seating for men/women during sabha; shoes stored at racks; tea/snack seva after sabha.","restrooms":"Restrooms on both floors; ablution area; filtered water; pantry.","wheelchair_accessible":"Ramp entry, lift to mezzanine, wheelchair seating, volunteers assist elders."}
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Visit Friday evenings for full sabha experience; arrive early for pre-sabha satsang; weekdays morning/evening for quiet darshan; special utsav weekends for cultural vibrancy.
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Phones silenced; gender-specific seating during sabha; no photography during arti; bring reusable water bottle; arrive 30 minutes before sabha for seating.
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2025-11-09T08:07:12.947125+00:00
2025-11-09T08:07:12.947125+00:00
Contemporary
Sharjah
Warehouse-to-Temple Conversion with Swaminarayan Aesthetic
Protected Heritage
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Sharjah Sabha Mandir) is a historic Temple located in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. This Warehouse-to-Temple Conversion with Swaminarayan Aesthetic architectural masterpiece was built during the Contemporary period and represents significant cultural and historical heritage of United Arab Emirates. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Sharjah Sabha Mandir) has served as the Gulf's earliest Swaminarayan satsang centre since 2012, transforming a two-storey warehouse into a marble-lined mandir and cu...
| AEDEntry Fee | Entry free; sabha registration free; Gujarati/Sanskrit class AED 150/term; seva sponsorships variable; parking complimentary. |
| 🕐Opening Hours | Dawn to Dusk (6 AM - 6 PM) |
| 📅Best Time to Visit | October to March (Winter) |
| ⏱️Duration | 2-3 hours |
| ♿Accessibility | Wheelchair accessible |
| 📸Photography | Allowed (No flash) |
Check opening hours and entry fees for BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Sharjah Sabha Mandir). Book tickets online if available to avoid queues. Best visited during early morning or late afternoon.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Sharjah Sabha Mandir) is located in Industrial Area 13, Near National Paints, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, Sharjah. The nearest major city is Industrial Area 13. Accessible by road, rail, and air. Use GPS coordinates: 25.3075, 55.4238.
Entry fee: Entry free; sabha registration free; Gujarati/Sanskrit class AED 150/term; seva sponsorships variable; parking complimentary.. Follow dress code for religious sites. Photography is allowed. Maintain silence and respect the heritage.
Allocate 2-3 hours to fully explore BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Sharjah Sabha Mandir). Key areas to visit include the main sanctum, pillared halls, and intricate carvings. Consider hiring a local guide for detailed insights.
Construction of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Sharjah Sabha Mandir) by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha
Conservation and restoration efforts initiated under Registered cultural/religious centre with Dubai & Sharjah authorities; functions as official BAPS UAE headquarters pre-Abu Dhabi mandir.
Digital documentation and 3D scanning completed by Inheritage Foundation