Church life in Dubai is officially returned to normal this week. St Mary’s Catholic Church in Oud Metha and St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Jebel Ali have resumed full operations from Tuesday, July 1. The announcement allows parishioners to return to the Catholic churches for regular masses, parish activities and community programmes after several months of temporary restrictions.
Both Catholic churches shared the update after receiving clearance from Dubai’s Community Development Authority. Church leaders also thanked parishioners for their patience and continued support throughout the temporary measures. They now look forward to welcoming families back across every parish activity and religious celebration. Here’s what is in store for you.
St Mary’s Catholic Church
St Mary’s Catholic Church remains one of Dubai’s busiest places of worship throughout the year. The Oud Metha parish welcomes thousands of worshippers during weekly masses and major Christian celebrations. Its schedule includes daily services, religious education, youth programmes and community gatherings for residents across the city.
In its official announcement, the parish confirmed a complete reopening from July 1, 2026. The church described the update as welcome news for every parishioner after months of adjusted operations. Church leaders also confirmed that a detailed announcement would follow the reopening notice. Events like Holy Mass, prayer, the Sacraments, and parish activities are back in full swing. You can find a list of all events here.
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church also confirmed a full return to regular parish life. The Jebel Ali church serves a large Catholic community through daily masses and faith programmes. Families from surrounding neighbourhoods regularly visit the parish for worship, celebrations and volunteer activities.
The church announced that every parish activity can now resume under the latest directives. Church leaders encouraged worshippers to continue showing respect, consideration and care for one another during every visit. They also shared their excitement about welcoming parishioners and their families back through the church doors. From choirs to Holy mass, Sacraments to rosary, they’re back in full devotion. You can find all their events here.
What were the temporary restrictions that have now ended?
The reopening marks the end of precautionary measures introduced during April ahead of Easter. Authorities previously limited attendance to adults aged 18 years and above during weekend masses. Worshippers also completed online registrations before attending services, while churches paused outdoor gatherings as part of the temporary arrangements.
Those measures have now officially ended across both churches. Parishioners can once again attend regular masses, community events and church programmes without previous attendance restrictions. Church leaders have still encouraged everyone to follow any guidance issued during services while respecting fellow worshippers.
