A new church organized in the United Arab Emirates.
By Gureni Lukwaro
A new Seventh-day Adventist Church was organized by expatriate believers in the Emirate of Ajman in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sabbath, November 8, 2025.
The new church, previously a company of the Sharjah Seventh-day Adventist Church, increases the number of organized churches in the UAE to 11.
Ajman is one of the seven emirates that form the United Arab Emirates. Located in the northern region of the country, it is the smallest emirate in the UAE by area, covering approximately 260 square kilometres.
Adventist presence in Ajman traces back to the early 2000s, when workers in the nearby emirates of Dubai and Sharjah moved to reside in Ajman, where the cost of living was relatively cheaper. These believers continued to travel to Dubai for regular worship, and later, in 2006, when the Sharjah congregation started, they worshipped in Sharjah.
In 2008 a small vespers group started to meet regularly on Friday evenings. There were some eight known expat Adventist families residing in Ajman, and the vespers meetings were held in rotation in these members' homes.
When a new pastor, Akhan Awungashi, was assigned to Sharjah Church, he saw the potential of growing this group, and under his encouragement, plans were put in place to start regular Sabbath morning services in Ajman.
"The fellowship we shared with Sharjah Church has been a true blessing, and it is not easy to part from such warmth and love. Our children have grown accustomed to the church environment and have formed meaningful friendships with many of the children there, while we, as adults, were privileged to serve in various leadership roles. Yet, in obedience to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and through the prayerful guidance of Pastor Awungashi and the gracious support of the Sharjah Church leadership, we came to a united decision to begin a Sabbath worship service in Ajman," said Elder Adan Bautista, the current head elder of the newly established Ajman SDA Church.
After prayerfully searching for a suitable meeting place, the first Sabbath worship was held on Sabbath, January 3, 2015, at Al Rayan Hotel in Ajman, the venue they are still using to date.
By the grace of God, more Adventists moved to the emirate, helping the group grow. Though the COVID-19 years set that growth back, God continued to bless, and post-COVID, even more members — families and singles — moved to Ajman. Other Adventists moved into the nearby emirate of Umm Al Quwain, and they joined the Ajman group for worship.
Under the leadership of another shepherd, Pr. Jeyapaul Masilamony, the group applied for Company status, which was granted in October 2023, when the congregation became the Ajman and Umm Al Quwain Company.
The Lord continued to bless the group with more members, leadership structure, and financial viability, which led to the formal inauguration of the group as an organized church with 36 registered members.
"The organization of a new church in Ajman is evidence of church growth in the United Arab Emirates. But for me, church growth is all about growing people. Hence, the inauguration of an organized church in Ajman is a powerful testimony that our people are growing in Christ. It is the organic 'fruit' of a unified vision and efforts of people who are rooted in Christ. While we welcome and celebrate the arrival of an organized church in Ajman, let us also celebrate the quiet faithfulness of Sharjah Church leadership — the mother church, the people — the 'root' that produces this 'fruit' by abiding and growing in Christ," said Pr. Noel Nadado, senior pastor for the Sharjah and Ajman congregations.
"Jesus said: 'Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.' John 15:4–5, NIV. May we all keep on growing to plant another church in Umm Al Quwain — the last emirate — to see another 'fruit' of faithfulness to the Gospel Commission," added Pr. Nadado.
The presence of an Adventist congregation in Ajman marks Adventist presence in six of the seven emirates. There are Adventist congregations in all emirates in the UAE except Umm Al Quwain. Known Adventists in Umm Al Quwain currently fellowship with the Ajman congregation, but there is no formal Adventist congregation in that emirate yet. Plans are in place to establish an Adventist congregation there and have a formal Adventist presence in all seven emirates of the UAE. Please pray for these plans to succeed.