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United Arab Emirates| Score: | 60/ 100 |
| Region: | Middle East |
| Persecution Type: | Islamic oppression |
| Persecution Level: | High |
| Population: | 9,542,000 |
| Christians: | 1,226,000 |
| Main Religion: | Islam |
| Government: | Federation of monarchies |
| Leader: | President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan |
| Violence | 7% | |
| Church Life | 75% | |
| National Life | 67% | |
| Community Life | 57% | |
| Family Life | 78% | |
| Private Life | 77% |
Christian expatriates are free to worship privately in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but the government does not allow them to evangelize or pray in public. Because Emirati society is conservative, Christians exercise self-restraint in public. Converts from Islam often face pressure from family and community members to renounce their Christian faith. Converts tend not to reveal their conversion, which is why there are few reports of Christians being killed or harmed for their faith.
Conservative Islamic society is the biggest threat to Christians in the United Arab Emirates. All converts risk losing inheritance and parental rights, being forced to marry, being fired or placed under pressure to work for “free.” Many seek asylum in another country. The government will act against any Christians attempting to speak openly about their faith, because evangelism is illegal and punishable under the law.
At least one female convert was threatened with forced marriage and some converts were forced to flee to another emirate because of pressure.
There were also some converts who were placed under financial pressure and forced to renounce their faith.
Because Islamic education is compulsory for all students within state schools, the children of converts must participate in Islamic education classes.
Christians in the West have had to discover how to worship God in isolation during the coronavirus pandemic. But for believers in the Arabian Peninsula, being a secret Christian is nothing new. Read More
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In-depth research for Open Doors' 2020 World Watch List shows that at least eight Christians, largely in Sub-Saharan Africa, die at the hands of persecutors (extremists, family members and state authorities) each day. Read More
Learn more about Open Doors founder
Brother Andrew in this best selling book.
If you're new to Open Doors,
this is a must read.