• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • flickr
  • blogger
  • youtube

blog-logo

  • Home
  • UAE Armenians
  • Hrach Kalsahakian
  • Հայերեն բաժին
  • Archives
    • News
    • Articles
    • Directory

Brief History of the Armenian Communities in the Gulf Area

February 24, 2006
A+ A-
Email Print

A few decades ago, Armenians, mostly single men, came to the UAE to work for a few years and return to their homeland with some financial security. But, thanks to the hospitable environment, the newcomers stayed, got established and the community started growing.   


 


In 1979, a young clergyman, Father Oshagan Choloyan, from the Holy See of Cilicia, in Antelias, Lebanon, visited the area to evaluate the Armenian communities living there. What he found was very encouraging. There was a church and a school in Kuwait, which kept the community lively and active. The Armenian Community in the United Arab Emirates, on the other hand, was just getting itself organized. So, by 1980, Father Oshagan was established in Kuwait as a Pontifical Legate for the area including Kuwait and the Gulf countries.   


 


Since then, Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates have become well-organized communities with Community Councils, various sub-committees, a Church and a Community Center in Sharjah. Both communities have established weekly schools where Armenian children come together to learn the Armenian language. The community has grown and prospered thanks to the hospitality of the late president of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan and his successor Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.


  


The prelacy of the region is in Kuwait. His Eminence Archbishop Gorun Babian is the Catholicosal Vicar Legate to the region. A National Representative's Assembly meets once a year to review and evaluate the overall status of the communities in Kuwait, the Northern Emirates and Abu Dhabi. The pastor of the United Arab Emirates is Father Aram Deyirmendjian who takes care of the spiritual life of the Armenians living in the Emirates, celebrates Mass and teaches in both weekly schools. 


 


Several social and cultural activities are organized in the three main Armenian concentrations (Kuwait, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi), where both Armenians and non-Armenians come together to enjoy various social and cultural functions.  


 


In May 2000, an Armenian Embassy was established in Abu Dhabi through the efforts and financial undertaking of the Armenians living in all Gulf countries. Armenian Airlines fly twice weekly from Dubai to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. About 300 citizens of Armenia are residing in the UAE.


 


The estimated number of Diasporan Armenians in Kuwait is 4000, the UAE Northern Emirates 2200 and in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi 700. The Diasporan Armenians living in the Gulf have many nationalities, mainly they are from Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Iraq, US, Canada, Australia, etc.  


 


The main executive body in the three cities is the Community Council(s), which supervises the function of the different sub-committees (women and youth associations, etc.). It commemorates the important event on the Armenian calendar, tries to help the needy individuals of families, welcomes visitors from other Armenian Communities, etc. 


 


In Kuwait the All Armenian Sports Organization (Homenetmen) and Armenian Scout Movement both have branches. In Abu Dhabi and Dubai the Armenian Cultural Association is active since 1989 and has organized many important Armenian cultural events. The Sunday School in Abu Dhabi has been functional since more than twenty years.

author-avatar

Posted by Azad-Hye

Like to share?

Social Media

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • flickr
  • blogger
  • youtube
Newer PostVart Alexanian: A devout raw-foodist offers lessons on life
Older PostFirst Armenian textbook of classic Assyrian published in Yerevan State University

POPULAR

item-thumbnail

Rebecca Malikian’s novel “The Caravan of Death”

July 10, 2015
item-thumbnail

Erebouni pen launched in Dubai and other cities

April 12, 2015
item-thumbnail

Vardavar (water pouring) international festival in Armenia gains popularity

July 17, 2015
item-thumbnail

Essam Nagy’s documentary “In The Beginning Was Armenia” (Interview)

January 11, 2020
item-thumbnail

Anna Dolabjian: I feel life coaching as a dream coming true

January 18, 2018

LATEST

item-thumbnail

Liana Ghaltaghchyan is the new Managing Director at the Children of Armenia Fund

January 10, 2023
item-thumbnail

Indian Journalist Venkatesh Remakrishnan mentions the Armenians of Chennai

October 30, 2022
item-thumbnail

Renovation of the Ghukasavan Cultural Center’s main hall

December 1, 2021
item-thumbnail

Nobel Prize winner Ardem Patapoutian

October 7, 2021
item-thumbnail

Armenian Church of the Virgin Mary in Basra, Iraq

August 30, 2021

COMMENTS

Azad-Hye on In memory of AUB Medical Alumni who died during the First World War
Azad-Hye on Kessab Ousoumnasirats celebrates centennial
Lawrence Danny CPA on Kessab Ousoumnasirats celebrates centennial
Stephensmith on Pizza making vending machine invented by Puzant Khachadourian
ALEXANIAN on Astghik Voskerchyan: Every element in my environment has a role in my creations

Categories

  • Applications
  • Art
  • Books
  • Business
  • Celebrations
  • Chinese Armenians
  • Courses and Camps
  • Cyprus Armenians
  • Diaspora Armenians
  • Documentaries
  • Education
  • Egyptian Armenians
  • Energy
  • Ethiopian Armenians
  • European Armenians
  • Festivals
  • Genocide
  • History
  • Hrach Kalsahakian
  • Indian Armenians
  • Interviews
  • Iraqi Armenians
  • Language
  • Lebanese Armenians
  • Music
  • Poetry
  • Politics
  • Religion
  • Rural Armenia
  • Science
  • Syrian Armenians
  • Tourism
  • Turkish Armenians
  • UAE Armenians
  • Websites
  • Հայերեն բաժին

CUSTOM LINKS

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact

RANDOM POSTS

item-thumbnail

In the hotel where I was staying in Limassol, Cyprus, I had the chance to meet the owner Avgerinos Nikitas, a 91 years old Cypriot. Hrach Kalsahakian

item-thumbnail

Ավստրալահայ ընտանիքը հայրենադարձվել Հայաստան

item-thumbnail

Armenian Church of the Virgin Mary in Basra, Iraq

TAG CLOUD

Armenian Art Armenian Catholics Armenian Christmas Armenian Costumes Armenian Genocide Armenian Songs Armenian Velvet Revolution Azad-Hye Celebrations Cyprus Armenians Daniel Varoujan Hejinian Diaspora Diaspora Armenians Education Emma Kant Emma Karapetyan Ethiopian Armenians Garni Geghard Genocide Goris Greece Hidden Armenians History Iraqi Armenians Kessab Kessabtzis Language Lebanese Armenians Meri Martirosyan Music Music Application Nana Aramyan Nikol Pashinyan Norway Ottoman Empire Paris Speech Therapy Syrian Armenians Syunik Turkey Turkish Armenians UAE Armenians Vardavar Western Armenia

Search this website

© 2023 Azad-Hye . Designed by Wpinhands
Scroll