| Jurisdiction: | Apostolic Vicariate |
| Southern Arabia | |
| Latin: | Apostolicus Vicariatus Arabiae Meridionalis |
| Local: | النيابة الرسولية من جنوب الجزيرة العربية |
| Area Km2: | 929,969 |
| Catholics Percent: | 1,000,000 (*estimated) |
| Churches: | 16 |
| Denomination: | Roman Catholic |
| Sui Iuris Church: | Latin Church |
| Cathedral: | St. Joseph's Cathedral, Abu Dhabi |
| Bishop: | Paolo Martinelli |
| Bishop Title: | Vicar Apostolic |
| Suffragan: | for one --> |
| Map: | Apostolisches Vikariat Südliches Arabien.png |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| Website: | Website of the Apostolic Vicariate |
| Jurisdiction: | Vicar |
| Southern Arabia | |
| Country: | United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen |
| Border: | Catholic |
| Incumbent: | Paolo Martinelli |
| Incumbent Note: | Installed 2 July 2022 |
| Coat: | Coat of arms of Paolo Martinelli.svg |
| Coat Size: | 150px |
| Established: | 2011 |
| Cathedral: | St. Joseph's Cathedral, Abu Dhabi |
| First Incumbent: | Paul Hinder |
The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia (Latin: Vicariatus Apostolicus Arabiæ Meridionalis) (Arabic: النيابة الرسولية من جنوب الجزيرة العربية) is an apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church with territorial jurisdiction for Oman, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.[1]
The vicar apostolic of the vicariate is Paolo Martinelli.[2]
It was first established in 1888 (as the Apostolic Vicariate of Aden) and took its current name in 2011. The see of the vicar apostolic is in St. Joseph's Cathedral in Abu Dhabi. Since 1916 it has been in the care of the Capuchins of Florence.
The territory was originally part of the Vicariate Apostolic of the Gallas, but it was separated into an apostolic prefecture by Pope Pius IX on 21 January 1875. On 25 April 1888, Pope Leo XIII made the Apostolic Vicariate of Aden, located in Yemen. On the 28 June 1889, the name was changed to the Vicariate Apostolic of Arabia, responsible for the countries of the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding region: Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Somalia and Yemen.
On 29 June 1953, the then Apostolic Prefecture of Kuwait (which has become the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia) was separated from the Apostolic Vicariate of Arabia. In 1973, the see of the jurisdiction was transferred from Aden to St. Joseph's Cathedral in Abu Dhabi.[3] A subsequent redrawing of boundaries in 2011 reduced its jurisdiction to the countries of Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
The vicariate has been governed by the Capuchin friars since 1916.
See also: Catholic Church in the United Arab Emirates.
Abu Dhabi - St. Joseph's Cathedral
Mussafah - St. Paul's Church
Al Ain - St. Mary's Church
Ruwais - St. John the Baptist Church
Dubai - St. Mary's Catholic Church
Jebel Ali - St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
Sharjah - St. Michael's Catholic Church
Ras Al Khaimah - St. Anthony of Padua Church
Fujairah - Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church
See also: Catholic Church in Oman.
Muscat - Holy Spirit Church, Sts. Peter and Paul Church
Salalah - St. Francis Xavier Church
Sohar - St. Anthony's Church
See also: Catholic Church in Yemen.
Aden - Proto-Cathedral St. Francis of Assisi
Hodeidah - Sacred Heart Church
Sana'a - St. Mary Help of Christians Church
Taiz - St. Therese of the Child Jesus Church