Dubai churches cancel Easter Masses amid Iranian missile and drone attacks, following government safety directives across the UAE.
Newsroom (06/04/2026 Gaudium Press) All Catholic church services in Dubai were cancelled ahead of Easter Sunday following government directives issued amid escalating regional conflict. The move comes after a wave of missile and drone strikes hit coastal areas of the United Arab Emirates, including Jebel Ali, as part of Iranian retaliation strikes linked to the Israeli-US offensive launched on February 28.
St Francis of Assisi Church in Jebel Ali announced the suspension of all Masses “until further notice,” citing government regulations. “Parishioners are requested to refrain from visiting the Church premises, in the interest of safety and community well-being,” the parish said in a statement. The church, situated in one of Dubai’s multi-faith worship clusters, lies near areas recently struck by projectiles.
St Mary’s Catholic Church in Oud Metha posted similar notices, canceling in-person services for Holy Week. Good Friday Mass was instead streamed online via the parish’s YouTube channel, allowing worshippers to participate remotely. “Please note with effect from April 3, our church will be closed to all visitors until further notice,” St Mary’s announced. Livestream services were held at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Despite the online arrangements, a small number of parishioners gathered outside St Mary’s compound walls on Good Friday to pray. “God is everywhere, but we needed to come here to feel a stronger connection,” said Karen, a Filipina in her forties, who added that she planned to watch the Easter service online later in the weekend.
Faith and Fear in Holy Week
The cancellations mark an unprecedented disruption to one of the UAE’s largest Christian observances. Easter services at Dubai’s Catholic churches typically draw thousands of attendees, with outdoor crowds tuning in via loudspeakers. This year, silence replaced the songs and prayers that usually fill the churchyards.
Bishop Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, released a statement expressing solidarity and urging parishioners to comply with safety directives. “It is certainly painful not to be able to take part in person in the beautiful and rich celebrations of the Holy Week,” he said. “We hope to return soon to celebrating together.” The Apostolic Vicariate confirmed its commitment to following UAE government guidelines and thanked authorities for ensuring public safety.
The wave of closures extended beyond Catholic congregations. St Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, St Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, and Dubai Mar Thoma Parish—all located in Jebel Ali and Oud Metha—announced that their services would move entirely online. Christ Church Jebel Ali and nearby Hindu and Sikh houses of worship, including the Hindu temple and Guru Nanak Darbar, also suspended in-person worship. “All of our services are now online during these sacred three days,” a Christ Church representative told The National. “We are extremely grateful to the Rulers of Dubai and the UAE for protecting and keeping us safe.”
A Nation Braced Under Fire
Tehran has claimed that its missile and drone attacks target U.S. interests in neighboring Gulf states, but the UAE has experienced multiple impacts. Since February 28, UAE air defenses have intercepted 457 ballistic missiles, 19 cruise missiles, and 2,038 drones, according to state reports. The Jebel Ali area, home to churches, temples, and residential communities, has suffered several near misses from these barrages.
St Joseph’s Cathedral in Abu Dhabi, though not under direct closure orders as of Friday, also limited worship to indoor gatherings on a first-come, first-served basis. “Especially in this situation where everybody is being enveloped with fear, anxiety, or uncertainty, the message of Easter is very important,” Fr Chito Bartolo, parish priest of St Joseph’s, told The National. “It is a message of hope.”
As Dubai’s churches wait for peace to return, parish leaders are focusing on faith through screens and prayer. For many in the expatriate-heavy congregations, Easter 2026 will be remembered not in packed pews or candlelit vigils—but in quiet homes, sustained by faith and the flicker of an online broadcast.
- Raju Hasmukh with files form UCA News and The National
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