Christian Cross Shows Ancient Religious Diversity On the Arabian Peninsula

Archaeologists have unearthed a remarkable 1,400-year-old Christian cross on Abu Dhabi’s Sir Bani Yas Island, adding to our understanding of Christianity’s eastward expansion in the Arabian Peninsula. The intricately crafted stucco plaque, discovered during the first major excavation in over three decades, provides unprecedented evidence of a thriving Christian community that flourished during the 7th and 8th centuries. This extraordinary find challenges previous assumptions about the extent of early Christian settlements and reveals the sophisticated religious diversity that characterized the pre-Islamic Arabian Gulf region.

• Pre-Islamic Ruins Found in UAE Belong to Rare 6th Century Christian Monastery
• One of the Earliest Christian Buildings in Bahrain Discovered

Archaeological excavation revealing the ancient Christian monastery complex structure. (Nasser Muhsen Bin Tooq/Department of Archaeology and Tourism of Umm al-Quwain)