A long-awaited Protestant church to serve the UAE's South Indian community opened its doors for its first service on Sunday.
The Church of South India in Abu Dhabi has been hailed as a "dream" for parishioners, who have grown steadily in number from 50 people in 1979 to more than 5,000 nationwide today.
The expansive winged exterior of the church welcomed a 750-strong congregation at the weekend before sharing its vision for tolerance and harmony with people of all faiths.
In Abu Dhabi, worshippers have for years met at St Andrew’s Church where they book weekly prayer sessions.
It is a momentous time for us
Reverend Lalji M Philip
The new octagon-shaped structure, located in the capital’s Abu Mureikha area near the Baps Hindu temple, gives them space for their own place of worship.
“The design is a guardian angel theme and shows the protection and love provided by God to all,” Reverend Lalji M Philip, the vicar of the CSI parish, told The National.
“We stand with the message of the UAE of tolerance to all and after Sunday the church will be open to all faiths and religions to pray and visit.”
Sunday ceremony
A soft opening took place on Sunday with a three-hour dedication ceremony and service in which vicars of several sister churches anticipated.
The service was led by Bishop Malayil Sabu Cherian and the prayers began outside the church.
The dedication was be followed by a thanksgiving meeting for which representatives from other faiths including the neighbouring Baps temple and representatives of Abu Dhabi’s Department of Community Development were invited.
Ready for opening
All the work on the interior beech wood and stained glass were done in workshops in Abu Dhabi.
“Those who visit the church can get a glimpse of the Old and New Testament in the stained glass windows,” Rev Philip said.
“It shows how Jesus is with us in every situation and how we can face difficult situations with prayer.”
The building has a balcony section that overlooks the main prayer area on the ground level with crystal chandeliers decorating the central spaces.
While the community is small in the Emirates, in India it is the second-biggest church group after the Roman Catholic church.
Similar to the arrangement in Abu Dhabi, in emirates such as Dubai, Al Ain and Ras Al Khaimah, the parishioners share facilities with other churches.
The Church of South India parishioners are mainly from southern India’s Kerala state and the church has worshippers drawn from other states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Construction on the Dh11m structure took about four years with delays due to the coronavirus pandemic and infrastructure approvals.
“We are like one big family and we participate in all activities together,” said Joseph Jebu, a founding member who took part in the first 1979 service when people gathered at St Andrew’s Church that was then located in the Corniche.
The 68-year-old finance professional returned to Kerala last year and has come back to Abu Dhabi to be part of the inaugural service.
“It is really a dream come true for us to have this church,” he said.
“This is a place for all of us to be together like a family.”
Land for the church was granted by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, then the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
The church is the second place of worship inaugurated after the Baps Hindu temple opened in February.
“As the name suggests we are proud to be part of a district where different faiths will meet at one point,” said Rev Philip.
“You have a Christian Protestant church from India and a Hindu temple at the same place – people can first-hand experience the message of the UAE when they visit here.”
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RESULTS
5pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Purebred Arabian Cup Conditions (PA) Dh 200,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup Conditions (PA) Dh 200,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Winked, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Cup Listed (TB) Dh 380,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Boerhan, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
6.30pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Group 3 (PA) Dh 500,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Jewel Crown Group 1 (PA) Dh 5,000,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Messi, Pat Dobbs, Timo Keersmaekers
7.30pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Handicap (PA) Dh 150,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Harrab, Ryan Curatolo, Jean de Roualle
8pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AF Alareeq, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
NYBL PROFILE
Company name: Nybl
Date started: November 2018
Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence
Initial investment: $500,000
Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)
Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up
The Land between Two Rivers: Writing in an Age of Refugees
Tom Sleigh, Graywolf Press
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Five out of five stars
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
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4,872 matches
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15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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Stage 7:
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2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time
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2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35
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4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
RESULTS
Light Flyweight (48kg): Alua Balkibekova (KAZ) beat Gulasal Sultonalieva (UZB) by points 4-1.
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Light Welterweight (64kg): Milana Safronova (KAZ) beat Lalbuatsaihi (IND) 3-2.
Welterweight (69kg): Valentina Khalzova (KAZ) beat Navbakhor Khamidova (UZB) 5-0
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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Norway
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Canada
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Australia
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Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
