Some 17 churches and a Hindu temple will be among the places of worship which will be granted legal status in Abu Dhabi.
Among the churches which will be legalized is the St. Joseph’s Cathedral, which is the UAE’s oldest church that dates back to 1965.
The move to legalize these churches and temples are part of the Department of Community Development’s efforts to ensure religious leaders will get a clear channel of communication and support on events.
“Licensing places of worship is both symbolic and practical, providing “an official unified channel within the government for religious bodies to go for special services and when they need advice or support and to assist their day-to-day running,” the Department of Community Development said.
There are about 10,000 worshippers from various churches and about 50 congregations in the three-story building Mushrif.
Philippines, India, Lebanon and the United States gather in the area every weekend.
