Archaeologists in Abu Dhabi Uncover 7th–8th Century Christian Cross on Sir Bani Yas Island
Plaster plaque bearing a cross, linked to the Church of the East, was found at a monastery complex during the first island excavation in three decades
Abu Dhabi archaeologists have uncovered a rare Christian cross molded on a plaster plaque at a monastery complex on Sir Bani Yas Island, officials said, a find that sheds new light on Christian presence in the Arabian Gulf during the early Islamic era.
The Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi announced the discovery in August, saying the plaque was recovered during the first excavation on the island in 30 years. Officials dated the monastery complex, which included a church and a secluded retreat for senior monks, to the seventh or eighth century and said it appears to have been "peacefully abandoned" before about 800 A.D.
The artifact, officials said, had shattered over time and was reconstructed by archaeologists. They described it as "an object believed to have been used by monks for spiritual contemplation." The style of the cross shows similarities with finds from Iraq and Kuwait and has been linked to the Church of the East, a Christian tradition originating in ancient Mesopotamia.
Archaeologists said the find contributes to a growing body of evidence that Christianity was established in parts of the Arabian Peninsula centuries before and after the rise of Islam. Christianity spread through the peninsula between about 300 and 500 A.D., and historical records indicate Christians and Muslims coexisted in what is now the United Arab Emirates after the Arab conquests.
The Sir Bani Yas site is part of an island that combines protected wildlife areas with luxury resorts and tourism facilities. While remote, the island is accessible by water taxi and private plane. Officials said the archaeological area and a visitor center are open to the public and include a small exhibition of artifacts from previous excavations, including glass chalices, a cross-shaped stucco piece and a stamp seal decorated with a scorpion motif.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chair of the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi, said in a statement that the discovery "is a powerful testament to the UAE's profound and enduring values of coexistence and cultural openness." He added that the find "stirs within us a deep sense of pride and honor and reminds us that peaceful coexistence is not a modern construct, but a principle woven into the very fabric of our region's history."
A multi-faith church, inspired by the ancient site, was built adjacent to the visitor center, officials said, offering visitors a point of engagement with the island's Christian heritage. The department said the recent excavation was part of ongoing efforts to document and protect cultural remains across the emirate.
Regional archaeologists regularly report early Christian structures and artifacts, underscoring the complex religious and cultural dynamics of the late antique and early medieval Middle East. In July, Egyptian officials announced the discovery of two Christian churches more than 1,500 years old, one of which contained a mural of Jesus, highlighting contemporaneous work elsewhere in the region.
Researchers said the Sir Bani Yas plaque adds material evidence for monastic life and devotional practice in the Gulf and offers comparative material for specialists studying the Church of the East and its networks. Further analysis of the plaster, stylistic features and any associated finds from the excavation may refine dating and illuminate the monastery's connections with other Christian communities in Iraq, Kuwait and beyond.
Officials did not disclose whether the excavation uncovered inscriptions or human remains, and they said detailed scientific reports will be published as study results are completed. For now, the recovered plaque and the wider site provide a tangible link to a chapter of Gulf history in which diverse religious communities lived and worshiped in close proximity.