Related: Pope Francis to make landmark visit to United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi, 1960. The winds of change are in the air. Oil had been discovered two years earlier and businessmen, oil company representatives, travelling salesmen and many more are surging into Abu Dhabi.
Many were Christians, not just from the West but also from places such as India.
This was a place where, for centuries, Islam had prevailed over Christianity. Yet from the start, it was clear that these new arrivals would be given freedom to worship.
That same year the first Roman Catholic mass was held in a private house in Abu Dhabi by a visiting priest from Bahrain.
The scattered Roman Catholic community across the different sheikhdoms were served by priests from there during this time.
In the years that followed, services were also held for Roman Catholics on Das Island and the oil exploration camps of Tarif to cater for the rising number of workers arriving there on the back of the oil boom.
But it was clear that somewhere more permanent was needed. Discussions began and Sheikh Shakhbut, the Ruler of Abu Dhabi, agreed to donate land for the construction of a church.
In 1965, St Joseph’s opened on the Corniche. The Ruler even attended the opening. An early aerial photograph shows it standing alone, a cross above the door, surrounded by nothing by sand.
The location was close to where Nation Towers stands today. During the 1970s, the Vatican moved the See, or home, of the church in Southern Arabia from Aden to Abu Dhabi and the bishop took up residence in the city.
Oil, then, had set Abu Dhabi on a new trajectory. Sheikh Zayed became ruler in 1966, the country was unified in 1971 and he became president.
The pace of growth was dizzying and larger development plans were put in place for the Corniche almost immediately.
This caused a dilemma as St Joseph’s could not expand to accommodate the rising numbers of worshippers. But Sheikh Zayed donated land in the Mushif neighbourhood, the Corniche church closed in 1983 and the new St Joseph’s opened in Mushrif where it still stands today.
But the story is not limited to Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Rashid, the Ruler of Dubai, also granted land for a church in Bur Dubai and in 1967, the Church of the Assumption opened.
Sheikh Rashid even attended the blessing of the church. Dubai became an important trading hub and the numbers of Catholics swelled.
The original building was demolished and a larger church now known as St Mary’s opened by the late 80s on the same site.
Communities in more remote areas were also not ignored through these years.
Father Attilio Franceschetti, parish priest of St Michael's Church in Sharjah, conducted services in private houses on the east coast of the UAE during the 1970s.
He had to make the difficult journey across the country when there was little street light and animals regularly wandered across the road.
A rented villa then became home until the first church was consecrated in Fujairah in 2002.
The community in the UAE falls under the aegis of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, which covers the UAE, Oman and Yemen and today, about 100 priests serve the more than two million Catholics across the Arabian Peninsula.
It is believed at least a million of these live in the UAE with many from India and the Philippines. Worshippers are served by modern churches, even extending to Mussaffah, Jebel Ali and Al Ain. The signs of religious freedom are all around us, especially during the festive season when Christmas trees, carol services and the Christian ethos of giving are spread far and wide.
Paul Hinder is the Catholic Bishop for Southern Arabia.
"There is a deep understanding in our two religions, Christianity and Islam, that human life has to be protected, family life fostered, poverty overcome and justice and peace made the main concern of every political action," he wrote in The National in 2016.
"I can give assurance – and I think I also speak on behalf of the other Christian churches – that we are willing to partake in building a just and peaceful society."
The planned visit by Pope Francis in February, then, is the culmination of decades work by the early priests, the first Catholics and the Rulers who allowed people far away from their home to worship in peace in a sign of the religious tolerance that continues to this day.
"The religious freedom we enjoy here is fantastic," said Father Ani Xavier, parish priest of St Paul's Church in Mussaffah.
"Everyone is respected. We are given land and the Rulers are excellent."
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Read more:
Joy at meeting of like minds
The first Noël: 60 years of Christmas carols in Abu Dhabi
Time Frame: The first Noel?
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Indika
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
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Fixtures (6pm UAE unless stated)
Saturday Bournemouth v Leicester City, Chelsea v Manchester City (8.30pm), Huddersfield v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm), Manchester United v Crystal Palace, Stoke City v Southampton, West Bromwich Albion v Watford, West Ham United v Swansea City
Sunday Arsenal v Brighton (3pm), Everton v Burnley (5.15pm), Newcastle United v Liverpool (6.30pm)
THE BIO:
Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.
Favourite book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It’s an amazing story about barefoot running.
Favourite film: A League of their Own. I used to love watching it in my granny’s house when I was seven.
Personal motto: Believe it and you can achieve it.
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The biog
Name: Salem Alkarbi
Age: 32
Favourite Al Wasl player: Alexandre Oliveira
First started supporting Al Wasl: 7
Biggest rival: Al Nasr
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Stage 2 results
1 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 04:18:18
2 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:02
3 Arnaud Demare (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 00:00:04
4 Diego Ulissi (ITA) UAE Team Emirates
5 Rick Zabel (GER) Israel Start-Up Nation
General Classification
1 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 07:47:19
2 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:12
3 Arnaud Demare (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 00:00:16
4 Nikolai Cherkasov (RUS) Gazprom-Rusvelo 00:00:17
5 Alexey Lutsensko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team 00:00:19
Results
6.30pm: Madjani Stakes Group 2 (PA) Dh97,500 (Dirt) 1,900m, Winner: RB Frynchh Dude, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,400m, Winner: Mnasek, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Grand Dubai, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 2,200m, Winner: Meqdam, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Thegreatcollection, Pat Cosgrave, Doug Watson.
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,900m, Winner: Sanad Libya, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,400m, Winner: Madkhal, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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How to help or find other cats to adopt
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MATCH INFO
Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)
TV: Abu Dhabi Sports
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Background: Chemical Weapons
The past winners
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2010 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2011 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2012 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2013 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2015 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2017 - Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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Bombshell
Director: Jay Roach
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie
Four out of five stars
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
UAE cricketers abroad
Sid Jhurani is not the first cricketer from the UAE to go to the UK to try his luck.
Rameez Shahzad Played alongside Ben Stokes and Liam Plunkett in Durham while he was studying there. He also played club cricket as an overseas professional, but his time in the UK stunted his UAE career. The batsman went a decade without playing for the national team.
Yodhin Punja The seam bowler was named in the UAE’s extended World Cup squad in 2015 despite being just 15 at the time. He made his senior UAE debut aged 16, and subsequently took up a scholarship at Claremont High School in the south of England.
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