Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is in the United Arab Emirates this week to lead Simbang Gabi celebrations for the Filipino Catholic community, marking a significant pastoral visit to the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia.
According to the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, Cardinal Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization – Section for the First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches, is visiting the Vicariate from December 16 to 18, 2025. His visit places a spotlight on the growing Filipino Catholic presence in the Gulf and the importance of Simbang Gabi as both a religious and cultural tradition for overseas Filipinos.
On Tuesday evening, December 16, Cardinal Tagle is presiding over the Simbang Gabi Mass in Dubai at 8 p.m., bringing together thousands of Filipino faithful working and living across the emirate. The following night, Wednesday, December 17, he will lead the Simbang Gabi Mass in Abu Dhabi, also scheduled for 8 p.m., allowing the Filipino community in the capital to join the traditional pre-Christmas celebration.
Simbang Gabi, a series of dawn or evening Masses held in the days leading up to Christmas, holds deep significance for Filipinos worldwide. In the UAE, the tradition has become a major spiritual gathering for overseas Filipino workers and their families, offering a sense of home, faith, and solidarity despite being far from the Philippines.
Beyond the liturgical celebrations, Cardinal Tagle’s visit includes meetings with Bishop Paolo Martinelli, OFM Cap, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, along with members of the Vicariate’s leadership and pastoral team. These meetings aim to give the Cardinal a clearer picture of the realities faced by the Catholic Church in the region, particularly the pastoral needs of migrant communities who form the majority of the faithful.
