![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3LHEADFAHETBFNZMQWDL5DTSKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a5ef032f40fb4a299483ecf129de2bd5fd032970e26f6b0e1859d4250fcaabf0&width=400&height=225)
The Church of South India is being built on land allocated near a Hindu temple off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed highway
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C26KAWIB5RGCXH4GVA5OVUW53A.jpg?smart=true&auth=261e5b146b746b1a597f8c51e6e2a3368014d7d74c115495cb94826d5f9c70aa&width=400&height=225)
The Church of South India is due to welcome parishoners from next June. All pictures courtesy of Church of South India
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ADXEYAXFGH3Z7SAXDSDKD4S67U.jpg?smart=true&auth=6b49b4df3907bdd04461c0ccce87deb47add78d70fb3921c558abb3e274ab16f&width=400&height=225)
Construction has begun on a church in Abu Dhabi for the Anglican community
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7CQ3DAHOIFTM7VGVRCRW6HCTKI.jpg?smart=true&auth=a2acaed4c405c59cdc3641db91a7dd53216a3e9842066525faf792e7ccddfd32&width=400&height=225)
The new church will act as a celebration of the religious harmony of the UAE, sitting close to the planned Hindu temple in the capital
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7GM5VMVRQ5RU4AX65AV6ZKAK2Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=5eea20791bb10ddb0f8277acb140fdd5c1808a1c47e47c0db3443415adf804e7&width=400&height=225)
The Church of South India will have a 700-strong capacity
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TENY5PMNJX3GQSYUB6P3DTYUJE.jpg?smart=true&auth=ce0e51602b6c7ff2d987117314c0ae0dcd8e8d29128deb29ec8b1e1bdfdcbbdc&width=400&height=225)
The earthy-toned, octagon shaped shrine will be open for people from all nationalities and faith
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DH7KGSNCXTMIDKU6KPQRT7CH6Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=f90013fdd0d37f6be7be97e132860801fd48d9ee1776e0bb45a80fc19967d070&width=400&height=225)
The church is being built on land granted by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3PE3QMPC7CX6PF2J6TRIHY76F4.jpg?smart=true&auth=fbfd6878a323f87bdb67312c3da6018c9c7f9e5c3b7ea4e80cb76fdebe7388e3&width=400&height=225)
The church will provide members of the South Indian congregation with their own place of worship in the Emirates
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3LHEADFAHETBFNZMQWDL5DTSKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a5ef032f40fb4a299483ecf129de2bd5fd032970e26f6b0e1859d4250fcaabf0&width=400&height=225)
The Church of South India is being built on land allocated near a Hindu temple off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed highway
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C26KAWIB5RGCXH4GVA5OVUW53A.jpg?smart=true&auth=261e5b146b746b1a597f8c51e6e2a3368014d7d74c115495cb94826d5f9c70aa&width=400&height=225)
The Church of South India is due to welcome parishoners from next June. All pictures courtesy of Church of South India
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ADXEYAXFGH3Z7SAXDSDKD4S67U.jpg?smart=true&auth=6b49b4df3907bdd04461c0ccce87deb47add78d70fb3921c558abb3e274ab16f&width=400&height=225)
Construction has begun on a church in Abu Dhabi for the Anglican community
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7CQ3DAHOIFTM7VGVRCRW6HCTKI.jpg?smart=true&auth=a2acaed4c405c59cdc3641db91a7dd53216a3e9842066525faf792e7ccddfd32&width=400&height=225)
The new church will act as a celebration of the religious harmony of the UAE, sitting close to the planned Hindu temple in the capital
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7GM5VMVRQ5RU4AX65AV6ZKAK2Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=5eea20791bb10ddb0f8277acb140fdd5c1808a1c47e47c0db3443415adf804e7&width=400&height=225)
The Church of South India will have a 700-strong capacity
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TENY5PMNJX3GQSYUB6P3DTYUJE.jpg?smart=true&auth=ce0e51602b6c7ff2d987117314c0ae0dcd8e8d29128deb29ec8b1e1bdfdcbbdc&width=400&height=225)
The earthy-toned, octagon shaped shrine will be open for people from all nationalities and faith
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DH7KGSNCXTMIDKU6KPQRT7CH6Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=f90013fdd0d37f6be7be97e132860801fd48d9ee1776e0bb45a80fc19967d070&width=400&height=225)
The church is being built on land granted by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3PE3QMPC7CX6PF2J6TRIHY76F4.jpg?smart=true&auth=fbfd6878a323f87bdb67312c3da6018c9c7f9e5c3b7ea4e80cb76fdebe7388e3&width=400&height=225)
The church will provide members of the South Indian congregation with their own place of worship in the Emirates
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3LHEADFAHETBFNZMQWDL5DTSKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a5ef032f40fb4a299483ecf129de2bd5fd032970e26f6b0e1859d4250fcaabf0&width=400&height=225)
The Church of South India is being built on land allocated near a Hindu temple off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed highway
Construction of Abu Dhabi's new Church of South India begins
Residents describe Anglican church to open in 2021 as historic for their community
![Ramola Talwar Badam](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5ef0cfa3-a931-4bee-a429-a6e926cfab98.png?smart=true&auth=8bd0c965d9bb14cf66195518e8cc461c939674357be28fde76d5e3597d39b95d&width=70&height=70)
Ramola Talwar Badam
01 October, 2020
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