Postage stamps on UAE’s iconic landmarks: 2011 Al Bidyah Mosque

Early mails

The first post office in the region was opened in Dubai in 1909. Dubai had one post office which was Indian in origin, under the Sind circle, and opened on 19 August 1909. Until 1947, Indian stamps were in use and are distinguished by the cancellation “Dubai Persian Gulf”. Pakistani stamps were used until 31 March 1948.

Britain managed the Trucial States’ external relations (a result of the 1892 ‘Exclusive Agreement’ treaty), including the management of posts and telegraphs – the states were not members of the UPO – the Universal Postal Union). The Government of India opened its first post office in Dubai in 1941 and its operation was taken over by British Postal Agencies, a subsidiary of the GPO (General Post Office) in 1948. Stamps of the time were British stamps surcharged with Rupee values until in 1959 a set of ‘Trucial States’ stamps were issued from Dubai.

Following the Partition of India, the British postal agencies in Eastern Arabia were established. The British agency stamps issued in Muscat were sold in Dubai until 6 January 1961. The agency issued the Trucial States stamps on 7 January 1961.

In Abu Dhabi, an agency was opened on Das Island in December 1960 and in Abu Dhabi City on 30 March 1963, using British agency stamps issued in Muscat. The Trucial States stamps were not used in Abu Dhabi.

As each emirate took over its own postal administration, the offices closed: Dubai on 14 June 1963; Abu Dhabi on 29 March 1964.

The northern emirates proceeded to issue a number of editions of stamps intended for the collector’s market – particularly Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, and Sharjah. Known today as Dunes, they are colorful and virtually worthless.

First Emirati stamps

The UAE issued its first Federal stamps on 1 January 1973. Before then, the individual emirates issued their own stamps.

Postage stamps on UAE's iconic landmarks: 2011 Al Bidyah Mosque

The Al Bidyah Mosque is one of the oldest worship places in the United Arab Emirates and is a popular stopping-off place for residents and tourists. Women, as well as men, can visit although it is advisable for women to take a scarf or similar covering for the head and shoulders.

Take some time to see the castle above the mosque. This is an important archaeological site in the UAE. Construction Al Bidyah Mosque is built of stone and mud bricks and is coated in many layers of whitewashed plaster.

Architecturally, Al Bidya Mosque is unique in the UAE and the engineering features are considered a major accomplishment for the period of construction. Its distinctive roof with its four pointed domes is supported by an internal pillar and is unusual for religious architecture in the region.

The prayer has a small mihrab (the niche in the wall that indicates the direction of Mecca) and a simple minbar (the pulpit which is usually situated to the right of the mihrab and consists of a raised platform reached by a set of steps). History according to radiocarbon analysis, the date of the construction of the Al Bidyah Mosque is thought to be as early as 1446 AD.

The mosque is named after the town in which it is located and it is also known as the Ottoman Mosque, after the man who built it. LocationAl Bidya is approximately 35 km north from Fujairah city before one gets to Fujairah’s Al Aqqah hotels and beach resorts

Al Bidyah Mosque Information Source: Fujairah in focus