Ancient Christian cross found on Abu Dhabi island as archaeologists dig into mysteries of the past


John Dennehy
  • English
  • Arabic

An ancient Christian cross has been unearthed on Abu Dhabi’s Sir Bani Yas Island, the emirate's Department of Culture and Tourism announced on Tuesday.

The artefact, thought to be about 1,400 years old, was discovered by teams from the department who restarted digs in January at the wider church and monastery site on the east of the island. The cross, moulded on a stucco plaque, was unearthed at a cluster of courtyard houses to the north of the main site where it is thought monks once lived.

The artefact is larger and more intricate than the decorative cross found in the 1990s that first helped identify the location as a Christian site. It is thought the cross could have been an object of veneration and placed on a wall with worshippers kneeling before it.

“The discovery of this ancient Christian cross on Sir Bani Yas Island is a powerful testament to the UAE’s profound and enduring values of coexistence and cultural openness," Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Abu Dhabi department, said on Tuesday. "It stirs within us a deep sense of pride and honour and reminds us that peaceful coexistence is not a modern construct but a principle woven into the very fabric of our region’s history."

Excavations this season – the first in about three decades – focused on courtyard buildings to the north of the main church and monastery site. “The plaster was resting face down and something about it caught my attention,” Hager Al Menhali, an Emirati archaeologist at the department, told The National. “There was a distinct fingerprint on the back,” she said, referring to the print of a person that could have worked on the plaster cross hundreds of years ago.

Ms Al Menhali suggested registering it as a special find, thinking the fingerprint alone made it interesting. “But when the team carefully turned it over, we were stunned,” she said. “There it was … a beautifully preserved cross [on] stucco plaster. This was one of the most significant discoveries of the season.”

The cross, which is 27cm long, 17cm wide and about 2cm thick, incorporates regional motifs that were common on artefacts in the Middle East, such as a representation of Golgotha, the hill where Christians believe Jesus was crucified.

  • The ancient Christian cross found on Sir Bani Yas Island. All photos: Ahmed Ramzan for The National
    The ancient Christian cross found on Sir Bani Yas Island. All photos: Ahmed Ramzan for The National
  • Maria Gajewska, archaeologist at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, showing the spot where the cross was found
    Maria Gajewska, archaeologist at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, showing the spot where the cross was found
  • Hajer Al Menhali, an Emirati archaeologist who worked at the site, said it was a significant discovery
    Hajer Al Menhali, an Emirati archaeologist who worked at the site, said it was a significant discovery
  • The church and monastery lie on the east of Sir Bani Yas Island
    The church and monastery lie on the east of Sir Bani Yas Island
  • The plaster cross bears traditional motifs and it could have been placed on a wall as an object of veneration
    The plaster cross bears traditional motifs and it could have been placed on a wall as an object of veneration
  • This year's dig focused on an area to the north of the existing monastery site
    This year's dig focused on an area to the north of the existing monastery site
  • Work at the site took place over the winter season
    Work at the site took place over the winter season
  • Painstaking excavation work also unearthed shards of pottery and glass at the site
    Painstaking excavation work also unearthed shards of pottery and glass at the site
  • The find draws back the curtain on a lost world and offers new theories about who lived here and why
    The find draws back the curtain on a lost world and offers new theories about who lived here and why
  • Senior monks could have lived in the buildings excavated this year for solitude. Another theory is that these buildings functioned as an ancient retreat for wealthy Christians
    Senior monks could have lived in the buildings excavated this year for solitude. Another theory is that these buildings functioned as an ancient retreat for wealthy Christians
  • Ms Al Menhali excavates an artefact at the site
    Ms Al Menhali excavates an artefact at the site
  • A visitor centre at the existing site is open to the public
    A visitor centre at the existing site is open to the public
  • People can visit the island and learn about Abu Dhabi's rich and varied history
    People can visit the island and learn about Abu Dhabi's rich and varied history

“Visually, every element of the plaster cross incorporates regional motifs,” Maria Gajewska, an archaeologist who leads the team on the island, told The National. “The stepped pyramid at the bottom, representing the Golgotha; the leaves sprouting from the base; the shape of the cross arms; the dots at the ends and the setting within a niche all find regional parallels in the Gulf and Mesopotamia.”

She said it was an “extremely exciting find” and a clear marker of who lived there, something rare in archaeology. “We were just digging in the right place,” she said, pointing to the spot where the cross was found in February. “Incredible.”

Long history

Today, Sir Bani Yas, about 170km south-west of Abu Dhabi, is a peaceful nature reserve where gazelles roam the dunes. But evidence for human activity there dates back more than 8,000 years and it once had a vibrant pearling industry. During the seventh and eighth centuries, it was also home to a Christian community.

The new discovery provides evidence of Christianity in the wider community on Sir Bani Yas, rather than just at the church and monastery, and draws back the curtain on the island's past.

“So much of what we do is interpretation and sometimes bordering on guesswork, frankly, and this was just lying there telling us, yes, they were Christian,” said Ms Gajewska. “We had settlements of Christians that were not just existing but were clearly flourishing.”

It is thought senior monks may have lived in solitude in the courtyard buildings and walked across to the church for mass or other services, before returning. Another theory is that the buildings could have functioned as an ancient retreat for wealthy Christians to get away from the world – living and praying by lamplight. Ms Gajewska said blackened earth found on the ground in the buildings could indicate places where residents had lamps.

One large stone building examined this season was built using limestone and coral from the island. Ms Gajewska said the buildings were unusual because they are extremely well made, featuring thick walls to tackle the heat and cisterns for water. That is an indication of a more comfortable existence than simple hermit life.

“They could have been places where senior monks who prayed at the church lived permanently, or else where people retreated to for periods of seclusion, perhaps during Christian Lent,” she said.

Experts said pilgrimage and spiritual retreats were part of the world during that time and people would walk across Europe to the Middle East.

Life on the island, however, would have been challenging, particularly during summer. They could have kept cattle, sheep and goats, as well as eating seafood. It is thought they were plugged into trade networks across the Middle East and Asia.

The Christian community was part of the “church of the east” – which stretched from the Middle East to China. Evidence of a church and monastery dating to the seventh to eighth centuries was first found at the site in the early 1990s. Another monastery, probably from the same church, was found in 2022 in Umm Al Quwain – also on an island. Others have been found in Kuwait, Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Archaeologists are investigating reasons for the decline of the site in Sir Bani Yas. It is believed the church was already fragmenting before the arrival of Islam. It was troubled by schisms, with different branches seeking to assert independence. But it is thought early Christian and Islamic communities communicated and traded. There is no evidence yet for any external event that led to the demise of the Christian site.

But archaeologists believe it is unusual for these buildings to be clean, suggesting residents intended to return. Sites typically show decline, with areas of rubble, but that is not the case at the site excavated this year.

This season’s dig also uncovered pottery and large amounts of glass. A standout piece of glass was a small bottle, sea green in colour, that could have been used for holding oil or rosewater.

Future plans

Further studies of the artefacts and radiocarbon analysis of samples will be carried out. It is hoped there will also be further digs at the site.

As part of restoration efforts undertaken by DCT Abu Dhabi in 2019, the church and monastery are protected by shelters. There is also a visitor centre with some artefacts from past excavations on display, including glass chalices, a cross-shaped stucco and a stamp seal with a scorpion motif. A multi-faith site has also been built next to the visitor centre.

Further excavations are planned and the department said the courtyard houses examined this year could be added to a broader visitor trail linked to the cultural sites on the island.

"The ongoing discoveries from Sir Bani Yas Island, even after 30 years of research and excavation, underscore the magnitude of our cultural legacy and the importance of our continued commitment to its preservation and understanding," Mr Al Mubarak said. "As DCT Abu Dhabi continues to uncover these valuable stories, we reaffirm our dedication to preserving, promoting and protecting Abu Dhabi’s diverse heritage, one that we are honoured to share with the world.

"These discoveries deepen our connection to the past and inspire future generations to embrace the spirit of unity and mutual respect that has long defined our community.”

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India 251-4 (50 overs)
Dhoni (78*), Rahane (72), Jadhav (40)
Cummins (2-56), Bishoo (1-38)
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India won by 93 runs

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Closing the loophole on sugary drinks

As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.

The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.

Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.

Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
 

Not taxed:

Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.

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Blend all the ingredients together on high in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy. 

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Spare

Profile

Company name: Spare

Started: March 2018

Co-founders: Dalal Alrayes and Saurabh Shah

Based: UAE

Sector: FinTech

Investment: Own savings. Going for first round of fund-raising in March 2019

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Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.

Company name: Farmin

Date started: March 2019

Founder: Dr Ali Al Hammadi 

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: AgriTech

Initial investment: None to date

Partners/Incubators: UAE Space Agency/Krypto Labs 

The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

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Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

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VEZEETA PROFILE

Date started: 2012

Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

Size: 300 employees

Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC

Company profile

Date started: 2015

Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki

Based: Dubai

Sector: Online grocery delivery

Staff: 200

Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

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If you go

The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at. 
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.   

Mia Man’s tips for fermentation

- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut

- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.

- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.

- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.

 

Updated: August 19, 2025, 5:45 PM