The Oldest Christian Site In The UAE

It was in 1992 when archaeologists unearthed an interesting structure on Sir Bani Yas Island.

The edifice, as it was later identified, was an ancient church and monastery dating back to the 7^th and 8^th centuries CE.

Since then, the historic site has undergone a series of excavations as experts continue to dig to discover more about the area and its storied past.

Now, the site has been reopened for the public – both residents and tourists – to see the first-hand fascinating site.

Visitors can see sections of the structure including walls, courtyard houses, as well as artefacts like ceramic objects and plaster crosses – all giving a unique glimpse into the life of inhabitants and design of the monastery.

A shelter has been erected in the site under the directive of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi to protect and preserve the remains against wind and harsh weather conditions.

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H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region, has visited the site of Sir Bani Yas Church and Monastery, the first early Christian landmark to be discovered in the UAE, which dates back to as early as 600-750 AD. After completing work on conservation of the site, the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi recently re-opened it to tourist groups and other visitors. The site was first discovered in 1992, and excavations over the next two years revealed its eastern and northern dormitories, its protective wall, and houses. The discovery of a fragment of plaster with a well-defined cross in 1995 confirmed the Christian nature of the site. Sheikh Hamdan said that the monastery and church are symbols of the UAE’s cultural diversity, and were considered of great significance by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. – – S.H. Scheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vertreter des Herrschers in der Al Dhafra Region (Abu Dhabi) hat die Stätte der Kirche und des Klosters von Sir Bani Yas besucht, des frühesten in den VAE entdeckten christlichen Wahrzeichens, das auf 600-750 n. Chr. zurückgeht. Nach Fertigstellung der Konservierungsarbeiten, hat die Kultur- und Tourismusbehörde in Abu Dhabi die Ausgrabungsstätte kürzlich für Touristengruppen und Besucher wiedereröffnet. Die Stätte wurde 1992 entdeckt und in den darauffolgenden zwei Jahren sind durch Ausgrabungsarbeiten die östlichen und nördlichen Dormitorien, ihr Schutzwall und Häuser innerhalb des Klosters freigelegt worden. Die Entdeckung eines Putzfragments mit einem deutlich sichtbaren Kruzifix im Jahre 1995 bestätigte den christlichen Charakter der Stätte. Sheikh Hamdan sagte nach der Begehung, dass das Kloster und die Kirche Symbole der kulturellen Vielfalt der VAE und dass sie von hoher Bedeutung für den verstorbenen Scheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan gewesen seien. . . . . . 👉🏻📷 Photo credit: @wamnews #UAE #VAE #sirbaniyas #archeologicalsite #christiansite #culturaldiversity #kulturellevielfalt
A post shared by UAE Embassy in Berlin (@uaeembassyger) on Jun 20, 2019 at 12:58am PDT

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