Jubail Church, Archaeological ruins of a church in Jubail, Saudi Arabia
Jubail Church is an archaeological site containing the remains of an early church building on the Saudi Arabian coast. The excavated portions include stone foundations, partial walls, and two carved crosses positioned near the doorway connecting the main worship space to the sanctuary.
The building was constructed during the early Christian period when Eastern Christian communities flourished across the Arabian Peninsula before the rise of Islam. The site remained buried until a chance discovery in 1986 led authorities to conduct formal excavations the following year.
The church served Christian communities scattered across the Arabian Peninsula, with the building functioning as a spiritual gathering place for local believers. These congregations were part of a wider religious network that stretched from the Persian Gulf into Mesopotamia.
Access to the site requires advance permission from local Saudi authorities, as it remains an active archaeological area with restricted visitor entry. Those interested in visiting should contact the relevant local departments beforehand to arrange necessary clearances.
The discovery was entirely accidental when a dune buggy struck the hidden ruins, revealing what archaeologists had never known existed beneath the sand. This chance encounter opened a window into Christian life on the Arabian Peninsula centuries before modern times.
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