Several places of worship lit up green across Abu Dhabi on Friday to celebrate the International Day of Peace 2019.
St Andrew’s Church and St George’s Orthodox Cathedral, both located in the Mushrif area, were among some of the buildings donned in green lighting to mark the annual observation day, which falls on September 21.
The move coincided with an upcoming ceremony to licence non-Muslim places of worship in the capital.
On Sunday, 19 religious congregations, including churches and temples, will be granted a license in a ceremony organised by the Department of Community Development.
Under the slogan ‘Call for Harmony’ and in an effort to assist their day-to-day running, the places of worship will be regulated by the department going forward.
According to many of the religious representatives in Abu Dhabi, lighting their buildings in green ahead of the upcoming licensing ceremony was a celebration of the UAE authorities’ efforts to provide a decent life for all.
The representatives of the places of worship stressed the licensing reflects the UAE leadership’s care to provide support for all the community and encompassed the true meaning of tolerance.
There are currently 17 Christian churches of varying denominations across Abu Dhabi as well as one gurudwara for Sikhs.
A Hindu temple in the capital, which is due to open for worship in 2022, has already been granted its licence.
