Christian monastery possibly pre-dating Islam found in the United Arab Emirates

An ancient Christian monastery uncovered on Siniyah Island in Umm al-Quwain, United Arab Emirates (Nasser Muhsen Bin Tooq/Department of Archaeology and Tourism of Umm al-Quwain/AP)

A Christian monastery possibly dating as far back as the years before Islam spread across the Arabian Peninsula has been discovered on an island off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The monastery on Siniyah Island, part of the sand-dune sheikhdom of Umm al-Quwain, sheds new light on the history of early Christianity along the shores of the Persian Gulf.