APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF SOUTHERN ARABIA (AVOSA)

The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia (AVOSA) is a territorial jurisdiction of the Catholic Church covering the countries of the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen.

The present Apostolic Vicar is Bishop Paul Hinder OFM Cap. who hails from Switzerland. 

The office of the Apostolic Vicar is based in St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

The Catholic community in the Vicariate of Southern Arabia is composed of over one hundred and fifty nationalities that worship in 9 Churches within the United Arab Emirates:

• St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Abu Dhabi
• St. Mary’s Church, Dubai
• St. Francis of Assisi Church, Dubai
• St. Michael’s Church, Sharjah
• St. Mary’s Church, Al Ain
• St. Anthony of Padua Church, Ras Al Khaimah
• Our Lady of Perpetual Health Church, Fujairah
• St. Paul’s Church, Mussafah
• St. John the Baptist Church (Ruwais, under construction)

There are an additional four Churches in Oman.

The Holy Mass is celebrated in many different languages including;  English, Tagalog, Arabic, Malayalam, Konkani, Tamil, Urdu,German,Italian, French, Spanish, and Korean. Catechism is also offered in many different languages and in the different rites of the Church.

It is a rare occurrence that the church compounds are not brimming with activity. For the expat population the churches here in the Vicariate are a strong connection to our faith and home. It is where we feel a sense of the sacred but also a sense of belonging. For this the Catholics in the Vicariate are immensely grateful for the warm welcome we have from the government officials.

From the beginning of the formation of the United Arab Emirates the government has been supportive to the Catholic community. Permission for the construction of Catholic Churches, and schools including the allocation of land has been graciously given.

Catholic Schools

The Vicariate owns and operates  schools within the United Arab Emirates and will open a new school in Ras Al Khaimah in September, 2019.  There are currently over 8,500 students attending our schools in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah.

St. Joseph's Private School was started in Abu Dhabi in 1967 and St. Mary's Catholic High School was started in Dubai in 1968.  The schools are owned and managed by the Catholic Church under the leadership of Bishop Paul Hinder.

Please click here to access the AVOSA website.