With Easter just two days away, Dubai’s only two Catholic parishes have gone dark — doors closed, masses cancelled, and no timeline given for reopening.
St Mary’s Catholic Church in Oud Metha and St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Jebel Ali both announced Thursday evening that all church activities have been suspended effective April 3, citing directives from government regulatory authorities. No explanation for the closure order was provided by either parish.
St Francis of Assisi stated on its website: “Parishioners are requested to refrain from visiting the church premises, in the interest of safety and community well-being.” It also confirmed that no livestream would be made available, adding: “The church will remain closed and no livestream will be available.”
St Mary’s took a different approach to digital access, announcing that Good Friday services would be broadcast online even as its physical premises remain shut until further notice.
The closures fall squarely within Holy Week — the period spanning Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday that marks the most significant stretch of the Christian liturgical calendar, commemorating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Palm Sunday was observed on March 27, with Easter scheduled for April 5.
As of the time of reporting, churches elsewhere in the UAE — including those in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain — had not announced any similar disruptions to their Holy Week services. The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, the Catholic governing body for the UAE, Oman, and Yemen, had also not released any official statement on the matter.
