Dr Geoffrey RD King with King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, on Sir Bani Yas Island in 1993. Photo: Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
The Sir Bani Yas monastery site was reopened to the public with enhanced visitor facilities in 2019. Victor Besa / The National
A plaster stucco cross excavated at the Sir Bani Yas church and monastery site. Photo: Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
Dr King on Sir Bani Yas Island, which is about 260km west of Abu Dhabi, in 1993. Photo: Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
A second monastery was unearthed in the UAE, on Al Sinniyah Island in Umm Al Quwain, in 2022. Photo: Nasser Muhsen Bin Tooq / Department of Archaeology and Tourism Umm Al Quwain
The Christian monastery discovered in Umm Al Quwain, pictured, and the one on Sir Bani Yas shed light on a time when Christianity and Islam coexisted. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Dr King and Peter Hellyer, who was executive director of Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey. Photo: Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
Dr King off the coast of Sir Bani Yas island in 1994. Photo: Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
