Churches in Abu Dhabi
Christians make up a significant portion of the expat population of the UAE. If you are religiously inclined and want to move to Abu Dhabi, one question in your mind would be, ‘are there any churches in Abu Dhabi’? The simple answer is, yes. While UAE is an Islamic country, the government has been extremely welcoming of people from different faiths. There are many churches in Dubai, as well as churches in Sharjah, that witness thousands of devoted Christian attendees each month. Similarly, there are churches in Abu Dhabi UAE, where Christian expats can offer prayers and worship in peace.
Churches in Abu Dhabi
This blog explores some of the main churches in Abu Dhabi that you can visit depending on the branch of Christianity you follow and the area you reside in.
St. Joseph’s Cathedral
St. Joseph’s Cathedral is the oldest church in Abu Dhabi. Its foundation was laid in the year 1962 and inauguration took place in 1965. However, in 1981, the church was moved to its current address, which was also recently visited by Pope Francis, during his maiden visit to the emirates.
Today, the parish has 100,000 expatriate Catholics from across the globe. The services are celebrated in various languages. For marriage, baptism and confessions, timings are outlined on the official website. You can register for the date which suits you best. You can make an online request for prayers via the official website as well. Moreover, you can become part of the following prayer groups at the Church:
- Bible Study
- Prayer Group-English
- Konkani Prayer Group
- SRM
- Legion of Mary
- Couples for Christ
If you are looking for Catholic churches in Abu Dhabi, St. Joseph’s Cathedral is one of the most famous ones.
Location: Intersection of Airport Road (street 2) and 17th street
Contact: +971-2-446-1929
St. Andrew’s Church
St. Andrew’s Church is another Catholic church in Abu Dhabi. The members’ body is extremely diverse with people belonging to various nationalities as well as Christian traditions.
The chaplaincy of the UAE is part of the Anglican Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf. Reverend Canon Andy Thompson, MBE is the Chaplain of the church. Recently, the Church held an iftar as well as a vigil for victims of the terror attack in Sri Lanka.
For life services such as baptism, weddings or funerals, you can book an appointment over the phone.
Location: Off 17 Street, Al Mushrif Area, Next to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Mosque – Abu Dhabi
Contact: +971-2-446-1631
New Vision Tamil Church Abu Dhabi
New Vision Tamil Church Abu Dhabi is an Evangelical Church Centre for the followers of Jesus Christ in the UAE. This Abu Dhabi church is one of the few Tamil Churches in Abu Dhabi and invites people of all backgrounds to pray and introspect. You can be a part of the following ministries at the church:
- Children’s Ministry
- Camp Ministry & Care Cells
- Prayer Ministry
- Women Fellowship
* Weekly timings and days are available on the official website.
If you follow Christianity and reside in an apartment on Airport Street, New Vision Tamil Church Abu Dhabi could be the place for your weekly prayer.
Location: New Vision Tamil Church,Evangelical Church Center, Main Hall – 2, Abu Dhabi,
Contact: +971-50-531-7044
St. George’s Orthodox Cathedral
The Vicar of St. George’s Orthodox Cathedral is Rev. Fr. Benny Mathew. As the name suggests, this one of the orthodox churches in Abu Dhabi; following the Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Church. You can attend the following spiritual gatherings at the church:
- Martha Mariam Samajam
- Youth Movement
- Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement
- Sunday School
- George Welfare and Development Committee
- Prayer Ward
Location: Um Salamah Street, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi
Contact: +971-2-446-4564
Evangelical Community Church
This is one of the few protestant churches in Abu Dhabi. The current Pastor Jeramie Rinne has been serving here for the past three years. From its early and humble beginning in the 1970s, the church has grown significantly. Now, 60 congregations worship weekly at the church. You can become a member of any of the following groups by registering via their official website.
- Children & Teens
- Men’s & Women’s Ministry
- Discipleship Classes
- Life Groups
Location: Um Salamah Street, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi
Contact: 971-2-446-4563
The Armenian Church of Abu Dhabi
Such is the diversity of UAE that a few thousand Armenians reside in the country. The community also has a place to worship and call their own.
If you are an Armenian Christian, planning to live in Abu Dhabi, renting an apartment in Mussafah might be a good idea.
Location: Street No.16, M-26, Mussafah – Abu Dhabi
Contact: +971–2-554-1818
Abu Dhabi Assembly of God Church
Abu Dhabi Assembly of God Church (ADAG) is part of the Tamil District Council of the South India Assemblies of God. This is another Tamil church in Abu Dhabi. Rev. Jayadev Jayaraj Samuel leads the church and has been working for the spiritual needs of Christian in the area for a long time. The service is in two languages, English and Tamil.
Location: Abu Dhabi Municipality Mussafah Centre, 6th Street – Abu Dhabi
Contact: +971-5-0122-3293
This completes our list of churches in Abu Dhabi. There are many churches from different branches of Christianity. Their number is growing and if you are a Christian, you are likely to find a church in your area.
As a part of the Year of Tolerance, there have been many initiatives to promote religious tolerance, solidarity and brotherhood. Stay tuned to this space to know more about the different places of worship in the UAE.
