Archaeologists in the United Arab Emirates have uncovered a plaster cross, believed to be around 1,400 years old, during new excavations at a Christian monastery on Sir Bani Yas Island. The discovery adds to our understanding of the spread of Christianity in the Arabian Gulf during the early Middle Ages, before the rise of Islam.
The plaster cross was found in the courtyard of a monastic house connected to the Sir Bani Yas Island Church, during the first large-scale excavations on the island in more than 30 years. Researchers note that its design is similar to crosses found in Iraq and Kuwait, linking it to the Eastern Church, whose origins lay in Mesopotamia.
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi began this new campaign in January 2025. The discovery provides rare material evidence of Christian life in the Gulf in the 7th and 8th centuries.
“The discovery of the ancient plaster cross on Sir Bani Yas Island is powerful new evidence of the centuries-old values of peaceful coexistence and cultural openness that have shaped the history of the United Arab Emirates,” said Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. “It reinforces our sense of pride in our nation and reminds us that tolerance is not a modern concept, but a principle deeply rooted in the history of our region.”
Christianity in the Arabian Gulf
Between the 4th and 6th centuries AD, Christianity spread across the Arabian Gulf, with churches and monasteries built in several coastal settlements. Finds have been recorded not only in the UAE, but also in Umm Al Quwain, Kuwait, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.
On Sir Bani Yas Island, Christians and Muslims appear to have lived together until the 8th century, when the monastery was peacefully abandoned. Excavations in the 1990s had already revealed the remains of the monastery, along with small houses thought to have been used by monks for meditation and seclusion.
Preserving the Site
The Sir Bani Yas Church and Monastery were first uncovered in 1992. Later excavations confirmed the site’s importance as one of the earliest Christian centres in the region. In 2019, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi restored and reopened the site, adding a visitor centre and an exhibition of artifacts, including glass chalices, plaster crosses, and a seal decorated with a scorpion motif.
The monastery now sits within a nature reserve, where gazelles and wild hyrax wander among the ruins. A nearby multi-faith church, inspired by the site’s design, has also been built for modern worshippers.
Archaeologists are currently focusing on the excavation of courtyard houses near the monastery, which may provide new information about monastic life in the early Middle Ages. Plans are underway to link the site with other heritage landmarks on the island through a cultural trail.
Top Image: Photo courtesy Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
Archaeologists in the United Arab Emirates have uncovered a plaster cross, believed to be around 1,400 years old, during new excavations at a Christian monastery on Sir Bani Yas Island. The discovery adds to our understanding of the spread of Christianity in the Arabian Gulf during the early Middle Ages, before the rise of Islam.
The plaster cross was found in the courtyard of a monastic house connected to the Sir Bani Yas Island Church, during the first large-scale excavations on the island in more than 30 years. Researchers note that its design is similar to crosses found in Iraq and Kuwait, linking it to the Eastern Church, whose origins lay in Mesopotamia.
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi began this new campaign in January 2025. The discovery provides rare material evidence of Christian life in the Gulf in the 7th and 8th centuries.
“The discovery of the ancient plaster cross on Sir Bani Yas Island is powerful new evidence of the centuries-old values of peaceful coexistence and cultural openness that have shaped the history of the United Arab Emirates,” said Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. “It reinforces our sense of pride in our nation and reminds us that tolerance is not a modern concept, but a principle deeply rooted in the history of our region.”
Christianity in the Arabian Gulf
Between the 4th and 6th centuries AD, Christianity spread across the Arabian Gulf, with churches and monasteries built in several coastal settlements. Finds have been recorded not only in the UAE, but also in Umm Al Quwain, Kuwait, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.
On Sir Bani Yas Island, Christians and Muslims appear to have lived together until the 8th century, when the monastery was peacefully abandoned. Excavations in the 1990s had already revealed the remains of the monastery, along with small houses thought to have been used by monks for meditation and seclusion.
Preserving the Site
The Sir Bani Yas Church and Monastery were first uncovered in 1992. Later excavations confirmed the site’s importance as one of the earliest Christian centres in the region. In 2019, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi restored and reopened the site, adding a visitor centre and an exhibition of artifacts, including glass chalices, plaster crosses, and a seal decorated with a scorpion motif.
The monastery now sits within a nature reserve, where gazelles and wild hyrax wander among the ruins. A nearby multi-faith church, inspired by the site’s design, has also been built for modern worshippers.
Archaeologists are currently focusing on the excavation of courtyard houses near the monastery, which may provide new information about monastic life in the early Middle Ages. Plans are underway to link the site with other heritage landmarks on the island through a cultural trail.
Top Image: Photo courtesy Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
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