Archaeologists working on Sir Bani Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates have uncovered a rare Christian cross molded on a plaster plaque that officials say dates to a monastery complex built between the seventh and eighth centuries.
The Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi announced the find in August, saying it emerged during the first systematic excavation on the island in 30 years. The plaque, which had shattered over time, was reconstructed by archaeologists and is believed to have been used by monks for spiritual contemplation in a complex that included a church and a retreat for senior monks.
Officials said the style of the cross shows similarities with finds from Iraq and Kuwait and is linked to the Church of the East, a Christian tradition with origins in ancient Iraq. The department said the monastery was “peacefully abandoned” before 800 A.D., and that the site has produced other early Christian material in previous investigations, including glass chalices, a cross-shaped stucco and a stamp seal bearing a scorpion motif.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chair of the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi, described the discovery as "a powerful testament to the UAE’s profound and enduring values of coexistence and cultural openness," saying it highlights a historical precedent for peaceful relations in the region.
The Sir Bani Yas church and monastery site is open to the public, the department said, with a small exhibition of past finds on display and a multi-faith church inspired by the ancient site built adjacent to the visitor center. Sir Bani Yas, located in the Persian Gulf, is better known for its wildlife reserves and luxury resorts and is accessible by water taxi or private plane.
The department placed the Sir Bani Yas discovery in a wider historical context, noting that Christianity spread across the Arabian Peninsula between roughly 300 and 500 A.D. After the Arab conquests of the seventh century, communities of Christians and Muslims continued to coexist in what is now the emirate of Abu Dhabi, the statement said.
Regional interest in early Christian archaeology has been growing. In July, Egyptian authorities announced the discovery of two churches more than 1,500 years old, including a site containing a mural of Jesus. Scholars say finds like the Sir Bani Yas plaque and the Egyptian churches help to fill gaps in the material record of early Christian communities across the Near East and Arabian Peninsula.
The department did not provide a specific discovery date for the plaque beyond its August announcement. Excavation work on Sir Bani Yas was the first comprehensive archaeological campaign on the island in three decades, officials said, and further analysis of the plaque and associated materials will be carried out to refine dating and cultural connections.
Officials emphasized that the site and its artifacts are intended to serve both scholarly research and public education, offering visitors and Christian pilgrims a tangible connection to the region’s multi-faith past. The Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi said it will continue conservation work at the site and display selected artifacts in the local visitor center exhibition.