Which countries fall under the jurisdiction of the vicariate?

The vicariate covers Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

Who directs the vicariate as the vicar apostolic?

Paolo Martinelli serves as the vicar apostolic.

Where is the see of the jurisdiction located?

The seat of the vicariate is located at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Abu Dhabi.

Which religious order administers the vicariate?

The jurisdiction is administered by the Capuchin friars.

Where was the vicariate based before relocating to Abu Dhabi?

The territorial see was previously positioned in Aden.

Abu Dhabi · UAE

Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Arabia: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

Long-term residents build their weekly schedule around St. Joseph's Cathedral, dealing with an episcopal see that manages parish life across separated territories.

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Around here3

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Within two hours

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About the place

St. Joseph's Cathedral contains the episcopal see of the territorial jurisdiction.

The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia represents the Catholic Church across a jurisdiction that covers Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Paolo Martinelli leads the territory as the vicar apostolic. Capuchin friars manage the ecclesiastical administration, maintaining the primary see at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Abu Dhabi to oversee regional pastoral duties.

Read on

The jurisdiction originally belonged to the Vicariate Apostolic of the Gallas before papal decrees created an apostolic prefecture and later instituted the Apostolic Vicariate of Aden. Subsequent reorganization established the Vicariate Apostolic of Arabia. The see eventually transferred from Aden to St. Joseph's Cathedral in Abu Dhabi, while territorial partitions separated Kuwait and defined the current boundaries.

Associations

St. Joseph's CathedralThe central see coordinates pastoral operations from this cathedral complex.
Capuchin FriarsThe religious order directs the administration and spiritual oversight.
Regional JurisdictionManaging Catholic communities across national borders complicates local administration.
Paolo MartinelliThe vicar apostolic directs all territorial governance and parish directives.

Facts

St. Joseph's Cathedral in Abu Dhabi contains the official episcopal seat.
Capuchin friars maintain ecclesiastical governance over the jurisdiction.
Paolo Martinelli holds the office of vicar apostolic for the territory.
The territorial boundaries encompass Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
The administrative see previously operated from Aden before relocating to Abu Dhabi.

Updated September 6, 2026Source: Wikipedia

Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Arabia: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

What is around3

St. Joseph's Cathedral contains the episcopal see of the territorial jurisdiction.

Getting there and staying

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