The Middle East, the cradle of the three great monotheistic religions, is today deeply marked by the Muslim presence, which dominates cultural, social and political life in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. In this context, the Christian presence may seem fragile: most Catholics are expatriates, far from their homeland, with limited public expressions of faith.
However, against all odds, churches such as St. Joseph's Cathedral in Abu Dhabi or St. Mary's in Dubai have become beacons of faith and community life. Masses in multiple languages, prayer groups, catechesis and solidarity activities turn these churches into authentic mosaics of cultures united by the same faith.
The presence of the Catholic Church in the Arabian Peninsula is organized in a unique way due to the cultural diversity and Muslim majority of the region. The United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen are part of the Apostolic Vicariate of South Arabia, while Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia belong to the Apostolic Vicariate of North Arabia. These circumscriptions, erected by the Holy See, make it possible to serve Catholic communities, composed almost entirely of migrants and expatriates, in countries where the Christian faith is a minority.
The Vicariate of South Arabia, based in Abu Dhabi, is entrusted to the Capuchins of the Province of Florence and has as its pastor Monsignor Paolo Martinelli, OFM Cap, appointed by Pope Francis in 2022. For his part, the Holy See's diplomatic presence in the region falls to the Apostolic Nuncio to the Arabian Peninsula, Msgr. Christophe Zakhia El-Kassis, whose headquarters is also in Abu Dhabi. His role is to serve as a link between the local Church and the Vatican and to accompany the communities in respecting religious freedom.
As Bishop Martinelli pointed out to the Vatican media on October 6,“Ours is a Church of migrants. All our faithful come from different countries and cultures, and that makes our vicariate truly universal. Being migrants here makes us missionaries in everyday life: we show our faith in the family, at work and in social relationships, without the need to proselytize.”.
Although Islam is the official religion of the UAE, the government allows freedom of worship for non-Muslim religions, and there are temples and churches (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, etc.) and a synagogue. In fact, the government has legalized and recognized non-Islamic worship centers and has actively promoted religious coexistence (establishing a Ministry of Tolerance and promoting the Abu Dhabi Declaration on Human Fraternity). In this context, Dubai and Abu Dhabi have become centers where Catholics can practice their faith openly.
Faith in Abu Dhabi
In Abu Dhabi there are about 9 Catholic churches and it is estimated that Catholics represent between 8 % and 9 % of the population in the United Arab Emirates, although the figures vary due to the changing nature of the expatriate population. Of particular note there is St. Joseph's parish, which has become a true spiritual home for expatriate Catholics living in the heart of a Muslim country. With close to 80,000 parishioners, this multicultural community celebrates Mass in up to fourteen languages, reflecting the diversity of its members, who come mainly from India, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Spanish-speaking countries.
Alexander Rodriguez, a lay aviator who helps in the parish coordinating the catechesis of the Hispanic community, recalls how, since his arrival in 2022, he found at St. Joseph's a place of welcome and spiritual growth, where faith is lived intensely through catechesis, volunteering, doctrinal formation and charitable activities.
"The parish is intensely active, the evolution is constant. Every year there are new activities, new communities that are integrated. The last one that I have seen grow a lot is the one in Sri Lanka.”Alexander explains. His own commitment led him to coordinate the Spanish-speaking community, which brings together some 300 people among parishioners, catechists and families. “At the beginning there were only a few of us, but little by little we have been adding altar servers, helpers and more volunteers.”he says enthusiastically. Alexander highlights the charisma of the parish priest, Father Chito, and of Bishop Paolo Martinelli, who, he says, “is a great example of the charisma of the parish priest.“have been able to create a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.".
Living the faith in a Muslim country, he says, has been an experience of freedom and respect. “In 2023, the house of the Abrahamic family in the United Arab Emirates opened its doors to an intra-religious gathering where Catholics, Muslims and Jews held their first ceremonies in the multi-faith center desired by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayeb as a symbol of fraternity between religions. It is a very civilized country, which protects freedom of worship”.”.
However, traditions are adapted to the local context. While private practice of other religions is permitted, proselytizing (preaching or trying to convert Muslims) is generally prohibited. In addition, non-Muslim religious practice is generally permitted primarily within the precincts of designated churches or temples. However, public celebration of large events such as an open-air Mass officiated by Pope Francis in 2019 has been permitted. Alexander comments that public processions, so common in Latin America or Spain, are held inside chapels: “Here the faith is lived in a more interior, more private way, but that doesn't make it any less intense. I have never felt that I am limited because I am Catholic.”he says.
Religiosity in Abu Dhabi, as in the rest of the United Arab Emirates, is lived with intensity, but also with prudence. Although freedom of worship is recognized, the legal system is based on Islamic law (Sharia), which can impact certain aspects such as marriage, inheritance and the penal code. However, reforms have been introduced in recent years to modernize the laws, especially for non-Muslim residents. In addition, there is vigilance to ensure that religion is “not instrumentalized” or used to justify violence, extremism or hatred, condemning the use of God's name for such purposes. In this context, the faithful have learned to express their faith with simplicity, depth and respect for their surroundings.
The only two parishes in Dubai
In Dubai, a city that symbolizes luxury, modernity and multiculturalism, there are only two officially recognized Catholic parishes, both located in areas close to each other and surrounded by mosques, a reflection of the country's dominant religious reality. These are the church of St. Mary and the church of St. Francis of Assisi, authentic spiritual lungs for hundreds of thousands of Catholics living in the city.
St. Mary's, built in 1967 thanks to a donation from the then ruler Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, is one of the largest and most active parishes in the world. It serves a community of more than 300,000 faithful from countries such as the Philippines, India, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, South Sudan, Nigeria and Colombia. The church has 15 permanent priests, as well as dozens of catechists and lay volunteers. Masses are celebrated in English, Tagalog, Tamil, Konkani, French, Spanish and other languages, at times beginning before dawn and extending into the night, especially on weekends (which in Dubai are Friday and Saturday).
According to parish estimates, approximately 51,000 communions are distributed each week, bringing the monthly total to some 200,000. This number reflects not only the massive influx, but also the serious experience of faith among the faithful, who often have to organize themselves in advance to be able to attend. One parishioner, who has lived there for three years, recounts that in order to be punctually at Mass he must arrive 40 minutes in advance to be able to park, especially on Sunday afternoons. “The area gets crowded, there is traffic everywhere, and parking is hard to find. But we all assume it as part of our faith experience. It is noticeable that people come here with a hunger for God, with a real faith, without any posturing.".
St. Francis of Assisi Church, located in the Jebel Ali area, was inaugurated in 2001 to serve the growing number of Catholics in the southern part of Dubai. Although smaller than St. Mary's, it also offers intense pastoral activity, with daily Masses in several languages, sacraments, youth groups, retreats and social volunteering. Its construction was made possible thanks to the cession of the land by the local government, in another significant gesture of religious openness.
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