Saint Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Orthodox Parish

Saint Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Orthodox Parish

Al Dhahak Bin Harethah St, Churches Area، Near the Ministry of Labor Sharjah office, Al Yarmouk - Sharjah

+971 6 566 0320

More than 7 million Armenians have preserved Armenian heritage, language, religion and culture in various parts of the world. A relatively modest number of 5000 Armenians who made their lives in Dubai and the Northern Emirates of the UAE have successfully established a warm Armenian community who endeavours to maintain Armenian language, culture, art and history.

Although may Armenians came to the UAE in the fifties and sixties, the Armenian community in the UAE was only officially established in 1977. This event was marked by the first holy mass in Armenian was delivered in the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Dubai in the presence of a small congregation of 70 Armenians.

In April 1995, His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia paid his first Catholicossal visit to the United Arab Emirates and was officially received as a state guest by the late president His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi.

Upon the request of His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II, His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Al Qassimi generously donated a piece of land in Sharjah and authorized the construction of the first Armenian Apostolic Church in the Emirate. On the 15th of November 1998 the Church was consecrated by His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia.

Following several years of warm diplomatic relations between the UAE and the republic of Armenia, in 2000 a complex for the embassy and consulate of the Republic of Armenia with traditional Armenian architectural characteristics opened in Abu Dhabi. To the honour of our community’s engagement, this complex was mainly financed by a prominent member of our community.

Learn more about our community activities, our St. Gregory the Illuminator Church and its holy mass schedule (Fridays 11.00-1.00), our weekly Ohannessian School, our Sunday school, our well established community centre and our rich calendar of events.

For more information, please browse through our website.