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Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of a Christian monastic presence on Sir Bani Yas, a small island in the Persian Gulf, approximately 110 miles southwest of Abu Dhabi. The artifact, a plaster plaque featuring a molded cross, is believed to date back 1,400 years. This find, discovered during the first major excavations at the site since its initial identification in 1992, suggests the presence of a community affiliated with the Church of the East, which branched off from mainstream Christianity in the early centuries.
The site, believed to date to the seventh and eighth centuries, includes what have been identified as a church and living quarters for monks. Maria Magdalena Gajewska, an archaeologist with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, highlighted that this marks the first concrete evidence confirming these structures were inhabited by Christians, countering previous assumptions about their dispersed nature.
The monastery was part of a broader network across the Gulf region, including areas of modern-day Kuwait, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Gajewska noted that the living quarters likely housed senior monks engaged in prayer and spiritual discipline. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Culture and Tourism Department, emphasized that this discovery reflects the UAE’s values of coexistence and cultural openness. Additionally, the site gains significance in the context of Pope Francis’s visit to the UAE in 2019, where he promoted interfaith dialogue.
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Archaeological find confirms 7th century Christian presence on UAE island
