Christian Cross Shows Ancient Religious Diversity On the Arabian Peninsula

Christian Cross plaque found on Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

August

/ 2025

Getting your audio player ready...

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.

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

Unprecedented Archaeological Discovery

The cross, measuring 27 centimeters (10.5 inches) long, 17 centimeters (6.5 inches) wide, and approximately 2 centimeters thick (1 inch), was discovered by teams from Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism during excavations that restarted in January 2025. The artifact was found among courtyard houses north of the main monastery complex, where senior monks are believed to have lived in contemplative solitude. The discovery represents the largest and most detailed cross found at the site, surpassing a smaller cross uncovered in the 1990s that first identified the location as a Christian settlement.

Lead archaeologist Maria Gajewska described the find as "extremely exciting" and emphasized its significance as a clear cultural marker.

"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," she explained.

The artifact incorporates distinctive regional motifs, including a stepped pyramid representing Golgotha, where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, and leaves sprouting from its base - elements that demonstrate local adaptation of Christian symbolism.

The 1,400-year-old stucco cross showing regional Christian motifs including Golgotha representation. (Euronews - UAE Department of Culture and Tourism)

Evidence of Religious Coexistence

The discovery provides compelling evidence of the peaceful coexistence between Christianity and emerging Islamic communities in the region. Emirati archaeologist Hager Al Menhali, who made the initial discovery, noted a distinct fingerprint on the back of the plaque, likely left by the craftsperson who created this sacred object centuries ago. "The plaster was resting face down and something about it caught my attention," she explained, describing the moment of discovery that would prove historically significant.

The Christian community belonged to the Church of the East explains a Daily Mail report, a branch that stretched from the Middle East to China, demonstrating the extensive reach of early Christian networks. Archaeological evidence suggests that Christianity and Islam coexisted peacefully in the region, with both communities engaging in trade and communication. The buildings appear unusually clean with little sign of collapse or rubble, indicating that residents may have left intentionally rather than being forced out by disaster or conflict.

Broader Network of Christian Sites

Sir Bani Yas Island forms part of a broader network of contemporaneous Christian sites across the Arabian Gulf, challenging our understanding of the region's religious landscape during the early Islamic period. Similar monasteries have been discovered in Kuwait, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, while another monastery was recently uncovered on Siniyah Island in Umm Al Quwain in 2022. Carbon dating of samples from these sites indicates Christian presence between AD 534 and 656, demonstrating that Christianity was not merely surviving but actively flourishing in the region.

The excavations have also uncovered pottery, glass artifacts, and a distinctive sea-green bottle that may have contained oil or rosewater for religious ceremonies. These findings suggest a comfortable existence for the monastic community, with well-built structures featuring thick limestone and coral walls designed to combat the heat, along with sophisticated cistern systems for water storage. The evidence points to senior monks living in relative comfort while maintaining their spiritual practices, contradicting assumptions about purely hermitic lifestyles.

Archaeological site of the ancient Christian monastery on Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, showing the preserved ruins where the 1,400-year-old cross was discovered. (Euronews - UAE Department of Culture and Tourism)

Cultural Heritage and Future Research

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism, emphasized the discovery's significance for understanding the UAE's historical commitment to religious tolerance. "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," he stated. "It reminds us that peaceful coexistence is not a modern construct but a principle woven into the very fabric of our region's history."

Future research plans include radiocarbon dating analysis and expanded excavations of the courtyard buildings, which may eventually be incorporated into a broader visitor trail. The site, which received protective shelters and visitor facilities in 2019, already features a small exhibition displaying glass chalices, crosses, and a scorpion-stamped seal from previous excavations. These ongoing discoveries continue to reveal the sophisticated religious, economic, and social networks that connected the Arabian Peninsula to the broader Christian world during the crucial transitional period of the 7th and 8th centuries.

Top image: Christian Cross plaque found on Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Source: UAE Department of Culture and Tourism

By Gary Manners