Initially, Catholics in the United Arab Emirates were served by a priest based inBahrain, but eventually there was need for a resident priest. Prime MinisterRashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum initially granted a plot of land but it was unusable due to its remoteness. Fr Eusebio Daveri then obtained a more accessible plot of land in 1965 and began construction of a church. On 7 April 1967, it was solemnly blessed by the Vicar Apostolic of Southern ArabiaIrzio Luigi Magliacani,OFM Cap., and dedicated as the Church of the Assumption.[2]
However, as the number of faithful grew, there was need for a larger church. In 1988, the Church of the Assumption was demolished and replaced with St. Mary's Catholic Church. It was dedicated on 3 November 1989 by CardinalJozef Tomko,Prefect of theCongregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.[2]
