Sharjah, just like the rest of the UAE, enjoys the indomitable strength of cultural and religious diversity among its residents. Residents can easily find gurdwaras and churches in Sharjah, alongside the mosques in the city – similar to how there are different churches and temples in Dubai. Regardless of what faith you follow, there will always be the freedom of worship and a safe space for you to peacefully follow your religion in Sharjah.
The Top Churches in Sharjah
Most churches in Sharjah are concentrated in the Al Yarmook area, which is one of the main reasons a lot of Christians in Sharjah prefer to live in the vicinity or rent apartments in Bu Daniq. With our list of top churches in Sharjah, we have tried to cover all branches of the Christian faith and their respective places of worship.
St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Sharjah
Present in the city since October 1997, this Catholic church in Sharjah is headed by seven different priests who impart the same message of God in different languages. The idea behind having multiple priests is to ensure that the divine word reaches every ear that wishes to hear and learn from it.
St. Michael’s Catholic Church hosts around 40,000 parishioners of different nationalities but of the same faith. There are 35 different prayer groups that celebrate the Holy Masses in 9 different languages – sending out the message of acceptance and harmony. If you’re looking for Catholic churches in Sharjah with Catechism programs, enrol your child at St. Michael’s Catholic Church.
- Location: 15 Abdullah Bin Anees St-21st St – Al Yarmook
- Contact: +971-6-566-2424
St. Martin’s Anglican Church
St. Martin’s Anglican Church follows the Anglican Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, under the leadership of Bishop Michael Lewis. In the UAE, the church partakes in the Chaplaincy of Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates.
St. Martin’s Anglican Church runs various ministries, where each focuses on a certain group of people (women, teens, children) or a matter of importance (sports, activities, fellowships). This church in Sharjah, UAE also hosts teachings and followers of other Christian denominations – as and when required. Holy Communions at St. Martin’s Anglican Church take place at 11:00 am on Fridays and 07:45 pm on Sundays.
- Location: Al Dhahak Bin Harethah St – 26th St – Al Yarmook
- Contact: +971-6-566-3388
Grace Evangelical Church
One denomination hosted by St. Martin’s Church is the Grace Evangelical Church. Like most early missions, the Grace Evangelical Church does not have a brick-and-mortar address so far. However, followers of the Evangelical faith can gather around at the St. Luke’s Hall in St. Martin’s Church as a local prayer group.
The Grace Church currently has foreign workers from more than ten different countries, including Filipinos, Africans and South Asians. Even with the ethnic and language diversity in the group, the church finds common grounds in delivering sermons and worshipping in English – a language common to all. Grace Church Sharjah has its doors open for anyone looking for English churches in Sharjah.
- Location: St. Luke’s Hall in St. Martin’s Church in Al Yarmook
- Contact: info@gracesharjah.com
- Timings: Fridays 09:30 am
St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Soonoro Church
One of the oldest churches in Sharjah, St. Mary’s Church has been around in the city since the 1980s. Even though they did not have a physical presence before 1997, the parish continued to serve people of the faith with the utmost diligence.
Today, the St. Mary’s Church has become an epitome of harmony, peace and valuable Christian teachings for its followers in Sharjah. Apart from regular church service, the church operates a proper Sunday school for kids, where classes are conducted every Friday after the Holy Qurbana. The church also provides bus service for its followers.
- Location: Al Dhahak Bin Harethah St-26th St – Al Yarmook
- Contact: +971-6-566-3384
Church of Virgin Mary & Egyptian Coptic Orthodox
There aren’t many Coptic Orthodox churches in Sharjah. The opening of the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church in 2003 came as a delight to the Coptic Orthodox Christians in Sharjah.
The church marked its humble beginnings by renting a hall in the St. Martin’s Church, long before their own piece of land was sanctioned to them by the city’s government. The first Holy Mass at the Church of Virgin Mary & Egyptian Coptic Orthodox was held on Friday, February 28, 2003. Since then, the church has been performing regular church service for its parishes.
- Location: Behind Ministry of Labour, Yarmook St. – Al Yarmook
- Contact: +971-6-566-9990
Russian Orthodox Church Sharjah
One of the orthodox churches in Sharjah is the Russian Orthodox Church. Opening doors to orthodox compatriots in August 2011, the church provides regular church services, in addition to baptisms and wedding officiating. The church also has a successful Sunday school for kids and a Russian cultural and educational centre that is open to all worshippers.
This Orthodox church in Sharjah church usually operates on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and all public holidays between 09:30 am to 01:00 pm. On the remaining days of the week, you can make prior arrangements for prayers, weddings or baptism through an appointment with the priest. For those of you looking for Pentecostal churches in Sharjah, Church of the Living God is located right next to the Russian Orthodox Church.
- Location: Al Dhahak Bin Harethah St-26th St – Al Yarmook
- Contact: info@rus-church.ae
- Liturgy Timings: Sundays and Fridays at 10:00 am | Saturdays at 06:00 pm
St. Gregorios Orthodox Church
In the 1970s, a lot of South Asians moved to the UAE to find respectable jobs amid the country’s oil rush. Among these people was a considerable population of Orthodox Christians originating from Kerala, India. Back then, there were hardly any churches in Sharjah – let alone orthodox churches to cater to this faction of the Christian faith.
This led to the formation of a Prayer Group that gained patronage from the St. Thomas Orthodox Church in Dubai. What started as a once-a-month prayer meeting back in 1973, has now developed into one of the popular Orthodox Christian churches in Sharjah – the St. Gregorios Orthodox Church. Apart from the regular church service, this Sharjah church is actively involved in giving back to its community in India.
- Location: Abdullah Bin Anees St-21st St – Al Yarmook
- Contact: +971-6-566-1765
Mar Thoma Parish Sharjah
Formed during the 1960s by Mar Thoma Christians who travelled to the UAE in search of employment, the Sharjah Mar Thoma Parish is another of the notable churches in Sharjah. Land for the church complex was officially alloted by His Highness Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi in 1995.
The school has grown in young participants as more families from Kerala settled in the emirate. It is now over a thousand-student strong and has 110 teachers. Furthermore, the parish also operates a number of programmes like a Sunday School.
- Location: Yarmooke Area, near Progressive School
- Contact: +971-6-567-4879
Frequently Asked Questions
How to get to St. Michael’s Catholic Church Sharjah?
The shortest route to St. Michael’s Catholic Church from central Sharjah is via Sheikh Zayed Street up to Abdullah bin Anees Street.
Where is the Catholic Church in Sharjah located?
The St. Michael’s Catholic Church is located in Al Yarmook in Sharjah.
How do I find out prayer and mass timings in the churches in Sharjah?
Most of the popular churches in the emirate have an online presence. You can check out schedules like prayer timings on their official websites.
That concludes our list of churches in Sharjah, UAE. Like we mentioned earlier, churches in Sharjah are concentrated mainly in Al Yarmook. Being a mixed-use area itself, the Yarmook community is most suitable for couples and single professionals. The good thing is that some of the best residential areas for families in Sharjah, including Al Khan, Al Majaz, and Muwaileh are less than 15 minutes away from Al Yarmook.
Alternatively, you can even explore other areas that offer affordable apartments for rent in Sharjah.
Please bear in mind that most Sharjah church timings aren’t constant. Make sure you call ahead of time to avoid any inconveniences. A lot of people regularly commute between Sharjah and Dubai for work and other reasons. If you ever find yourself running late for your Sharjah church prayers, head over to the churches in Dubai. These also include churches in Ajman like the Redeemed Christian Church of God among others.
Stay tuned to MyBayut for more updates on the best destinations in the UAE!
