Initially, Catholics in the United Arab Emirates were served by a priest based in Bahrain, but eventually there was need for a resident priest. Prime Minister Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum initially granted a plot of land but it was unusable due to its remoteness.
The initial Catholic presence in the UAE relied on a priest from Bahrain. However, as the community expanded, there was a need for a local priest. Prime Minister Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum provided land for this purpose, but it turned out to be unusable due to its remote location.