Manama: The Bahrain National Museum hosted a two-day seminar on Saturday and Sunday, 13-14 September 2025, titled "Christian Archaeological Sites in Eastern Arabia: Towards A Shared Heritage". Organised in cooperation with the King Hamad Global Centre for Coexistence and Tolerance.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the event was attended by Dr. Salman Al Mahari, Director General of Archaeology at the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, Abdulla Isa Al Mannai, Executive Director of the King Hamad Global Centre for Coexistence and Tolerance, along with a number of officials and archaeology specialists, as well as a group of academics, researchers, and experts from Bahrain and abroad.
Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, affirmed that the continued discovery of Christian archaeological sites in Eastern Arabia reflects the region's cultural diversity, which stands as a force in its historical heritage. He noted that these sites shed light on the civilisational richness of Bahrain across the ages, making it a meeting point for civilisations and religions, while the Nestorian Christian heritage represents an added value to the cultural diversity of the region.
The first day of the seminar provided a historical overview of Nestorian Christian heritage in Eastern Arabia, alongside efforts to preserve related archaeological sites. It featured three key sessions. The first addressed the Christian remains discovered in Samaheej, Bahrain, their significance, and measures for protection, in addition to a presentation on the site of Al Qusur on Failaka Island, Kuwait, which included a summary of earlier research and the most recent excavation results.
Discussions included a paper on the Christian discoveries at Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, reviewing recent excavation findings and preservation approaches, alongside a research paper entitled "From Late Antiquity to Early Islam: The Pearling Town and Christian Monastery on Siniya Island - Umm Al Quwain", which examined the settlement and monastery as one of the most significant recent discoveries in the Arabian Gulf.
The second session featured a panel discussion on the historical connections between the Arabian Peninsula and wider Christian heritage across regions, with reflections on the distinctiveness of the Arabian context. The third session brought together experts to present papers on the church and monastery of Sir Bani Yas Island, the state of conservation of the ancient Christian monastery in Umm Al Quwain and strategies to safeguard its historical and architectural value, the successive civilisations of Failaka Island, and the management and preservation of the Samaheej site.
The second day comprised three main sessions. The first addressed the global importance of these sites, while the second discussed knowledge gaps and research needs regarding Christian archaeology in the Arabian Gulf, including two sub-panels on documentation tools and their role in research, and on regional research frameworks and opportunities for capacity-building. The third session focused on a roadmap for regional cooperation in safeguarding heritage, setting out future steps to strengthen recognition of the historical and cultural significance of Nestorian Christianity in Eastern Arabia, and concluded with a review of the seminar's main outcomes and recommendations.
The program also included a field visit to the Samaheej archaeological site in Muharraq, believed to be among the oldest Christian structures in the Arabian Gulf, featuring a collection of early Christian symbols.