In July this year, the oldest Christian site discovered on Abu Dhabi’s Sir Bani Yas Island in 1992 was fully opened to the public, allowing access to exclusive areas within this archaeological landmark. The excavated remains of the church and monastery date back to the seventh and eighth centuries, while other items found include courtyard homes and pottery. Believed to have housed a community of 30 monks more than a thousand years ago, the site highlights the UAE’s diverse cultural heritage and long-standing values of tolerance and acceptance of other faiths, in perfect alignment with this year’s celebration of the Year of Tolerance.
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