Jamae Chulia Heritage opens in Chinatown, carrying forward 200 years of Indian Muslim heritage

1. Singapore, 24 October 2026 - Jamae Chulia Heritage officially opened today in Chinatown, on wakaf (endowment) land entrusted to the community by earlier generations. Opening in the year Masjid Jamae (Chulia) turns 200, the development brings together heritage, hospitality and community spaces, and revitalises the wakaf asset to sustain its benefits for future generations.
   

2. Located between Mosque Street and Pagoda Street, the development comprises a 90-key serviced residence managed by The Ascott Limited under its lyf Chinatown brand, alongside retail and dining spaces. The opening was officiated by Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence, Mr Zaqy Mohamad, and attended by Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education and Ministry of National Development, Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi, and Grassroots Advisor, Dr Hamid Razak, together with about 300 community leaders, partners and stakeholders.
   

3. Developed by WJC Heritage Pte Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Warees Investments, in a joint venture with MUIS-managed wakafs, Jamae Chulia Heritage is the fourth development under the Wakaf Revitalisation Scheme. The scheme enables wakaf properties to be renewed to meet changing needs while preserving their original purpose of providing lasting benefits to their beneficiaries.
   

Honouring 200 years of Indian Muslim heritage

4. The early Chulia settlers, who came largely from the Coromandel Coast as traders and moneychangers, built more than livelihoods – they built a community with places of worship and institutions that continue to serve the community, even today.
   

5. These early pioneers also established wakaf assets to support the needs of future generations. Today, Wakaf Jamae continues to benefit three longstanding Indian Muslim institutions: Jamae Chulia Mosque, Al-Abrar Mosque and Nagore Dargah Indian Muslim Heritage Centre. The revitalisation of Jamae Chulia Heritage seeks to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Wakaf Jamae and its contributions to the community.
   

6. Speaking at the opening, Acting Minister Zaqy emphasised the responsibility of each generation to preserve and renew what has been entrusted to them. “What is entrusted to us is an Amanah, and good stewardship means ensuring it continues to serve its purpose. A confident community must know what should endure, and what must evolve,” he said.
   

7. Jamae Chulia Heritage also celebrates the Indian Muslim community's place in Singapore's multicultural history. As part of the opening, Mr Zaqy unveiled a mural commissioned by Warees Investments. Created by local artists Mr Benedict Tay and Mr Lucas Goh, the mural depicts the spice journey of early Indian Muslim settlers to Singapore. An accompanying storyboard, supported by the Urban Redevelopment Authority, provides more information on the mural.
   

8. Mr Zaqy also toured a heritage gallery curated by Warees Board Director Dr Razak Chanbasha, in collaboration with representatives of the beneficiary institutions. The gallery showcases the history and contributions of the Indian Muslim community, including the Wakaf Jamae Heritage Trail, which connects six heritage institutions and commercial assets associated with the community’s early philanthropists.

Renewing Wakaf for future generations

9. The development conserves four pre-war shophouses along Pagoda Street and connects them to a new building along Mosque Street. Mr Zaqy highlighted how the project demonstrates the renewal of wakaf assets to meet changing needs while preserving their heritage and purpose. He also acknowledged the shared commitment of MUIS and Warees Investments in bringing the development to fruition.
   

10. Warees Chairman, Mr Abdul Razak Maricar, highlighted that the project took more than a decade of careful planning, with every major decision scrutinized by the Board together with MUIS. It is also the second partnership with The Ascott Limited, after Somerset Bencoolen. On the duty to beneficiaries, he said: “An unused wakaf is a gift that has stopped giving.” The goal is not to chase returns, but to deliver “sustainable valorisation: unlocking value in a way that lasts, so that the benefits flow not for a year, but for decades.”
    

11. Beyond its commercial and heritage features, Jamae Chulia Heritage is also intended to serve as a space for community life. The dining and events space operated by Paradise Biryani Singapore, together with the Community Plaza at Jamae Chulia Mosque, will provide opportunities for gatherings, cultural activities and programmes celebrating Indian Muslim heritage and traditions.
    

12. The development also complements wider efforts to sustain Chinatown's heritage and vibrancy. Under the National Heritage Board’s Place Plan process, the Jamae Chulia Heritage development will work with Chinatown stakeholders to promote heritage, culture and commerce, and bring new vibrancy to the district.

The next chapter belongs to the next generation

13. Mr Zaqy expressed hope that Jamae Chulia Heritage would help younger Singaporeans, including young Indian Muslims, connect with their heritage and draw confidence from the contributions of earlier generations. “Strong roots should give our young the confidence to engage the world and contribute to society. Our young people are not simply inheritors of this story. They are its next authors,” he said.
    

14. Mr Abdul Razak said: “We hope Jamae Chulia Heritage will inspire the next generation to carry this legacy forward, so that this wakaf keeps giving for generations to come.” As Warees marks its 25th anniversary next year, he called the development a fitting testament to what a quarter century of careful stewardship can achieve.

Annex A – About Jamae Chulia Heritage [PDF, 278.62 KB] (opens in new tab)