Restricted
United Arab Emirates
There are few known Christians among Emirati Arabs. But many foreign-national workers, who compose a significant segment of the country’s population, are Christians. Foreigners are allowed personal religious freedom but not the freedom to share their faith with Muslims. Similarly, churches cannot share the gospel with Muslims or do anything that the government views as undermining its power and control. Although it can be difficult to form close relationships with Emirati families, Christian workers faithfully reach out to them and the many migrants from restricted nations living in the UAE, including Pakistanis, Iranians and Afghans.
Major Religion
Nearly all Emiratis are Sunni Muslims. However, the population includes foreign workers from numerous nations, and many are Christians.
Persecutor
Emirati Christian converts from Islam are persecuted primarily by their immediate family members, and the government restricts evangelism.
WHAT IT MEANS TO FOLLOW CHRIST IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Only a few Emiratis are known to have converted from Islam to Christianity. While they enjoy a degree of freedom in meeting covertly for worship, they lose their jobs, homes, spouses and children if their faith is discovered. Christian converts can also be prosecuted for apostasy, which is considered a crime.
Access to Bibles
People in the UAE have access to the Bible through the internet, various churches and expatriate Christian workers in the country. Give Bibles
VOM Work
VOM provides support to Christian converts from Islam and supports follow-up work for Arabic-language outreach in the country. Give to VOM’s Global Ministry
Pray for United Arab Emirates
- Pray that Muslims will find Christian friends who will share the gospel with them.
- Thank God for the Arab churches in the UAE. Pray that they will be effective in spreading the gospel.
- Pray for converts who left Islam to follow Christ and then fled to the UAE for safety.
- Pray that the millions of Muslims who come to work in the UAE will meet Christians and come to faith in Christ.
- Pray that Emerati Muslims who are fired from their jobs after becoming Christians will see God provide for them.
