Christians in the UAE are either expatriates, migrants or converts to Christianity from a Muslim background. It is the last of these groups that feels the most pressure, from family, community leaders and government officials. The country is stable and wealthy, yet religious and political freedom is severely restricted. All citizens are defined as Muslims. The law does not recognise conversion from Islam to Christianity, for which the legal punishment is death.
UAE an ‘oasis of freedom’ for foreign Christians
For foreign Christians, the United Arab Emirates is an “oasis of freedom” compared to other countries in the Middle East, says a member of a thriving Dubai church. Mack Stiles is part of the United Christian Church of Dubai (UCCD), which in the last eight years has grown from one […]
Dubai: free to worship, but not convert
In Dubai Christians are free to worship but must not try to convert anyone, reports the BBC. Churches cannot display crosses, and those who preach publicly or try to persuade Muslims to convert can expect jail and deportation. The UAE, of which Dubai is a part, has crippling restrictions on […]