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More Dubai churches cancel masses, worship services until further notice
Some churches posted that all services and activities will be temporarily suspended until further notice in compliance with safety measures announced in the country
- PUBLISHED: Fri 3 Apr 2026, 9:58 AM
[Editor's Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid US-Israel-Iran war for the latest regional developments.]
Several more churches in Dubai have announced the cancellation of worship services and masses from today until further notice.
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This comes after the Khaleej Times first announced that both Catholic churches in Dubai would suspend services in line with government regulatory directives.
The move comes amid Passion or Holy Week, when churches typically see some of their largest gatherings of the year.
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“In accordance with the strict instructions issued by the UAE authorities, all worship and services in our parish will be conducted online only until further notice,” the St Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Dubai, posted.
A member of the CSI Parish that convenes at the Holy Trinity Church in Oud Metha confirmed that their service had been moved online following instructions by authorities to suspend church activities.
Other churches
The Mor Ignatius Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Cathedral also posted on their social media channels that all services from Good Friday onwards would be conducted online only until further notice.
Similarly, the St Mina Dubai church posted that all church services and activities were temporarily suspended until further notice in compliance with safety measures announced in the country.
“This decision comes out of concern for your safety with the assurance that this is a precautionary and temporary measure,” it noted.
Most of the churches in the emirate switched to online for their Good Friday services. Reverand Raju Jacob Vicar of the CSI Parish told Khaleej Times that their parishioners were very understanding of the last-minute decision to move the service online. “We respect the decision of the authorities and know that it was taken keeping our wellbeing in mind,” he said. “Over 200 people attended our service online and the Bishop prayed for the UAE and the Middle East in general.”
Here is a full list of the churches that have confirmed so far that their services have been canceled:
St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Dubai
Holy Trinity church in Oud Metha
Mor Ignatius Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Cathedral
St. Mina Dubai church
St Mary’s Catholic Church in Oud Metha and
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Jebel Ali
Evangelical Christian Church of Dubai
Al Bishara Church Dubai
