Crown Prince of United Arab Emirates renames Mosque for Virgin Mary

Crown Prince seeks to emphasize the UAE is open to people of all faiths.

The United Arab Emirates has renamed a mosque, "Mary, Mother of Jesus." The decision appears to be an effort to stress what they call the "bonds of humanity."

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, has ordered the renaming of a mosque to "consolidate bonds of humanity between followers of different religions." The mosque was renamed to "Mary, Mother of Jesus."

Christians in the conservative Islamic country have met the news with joy and gratitude.

The Virgin Mary is also a prominent figure in the Islamic faith.

The United Arab Emirates allows freedom of religion, although Islam is the official religion of the state. There are two Catholic parishes in the country as well as several, smaller denominations. A Hindu temple is also scheduled for construction.

The UAE is a destination for both tourists as well as foreign workers who would like to have places to worship within their own faith.

By renaming the mosque, the Crown Prince is emphasizing religious tolerance and signaling his nation is open to people of different faiths.

The senior pastor of the Evangelical Community Church, Jeramie Rinne, in Abu Dhabi said, "The UAE continues to set the pace in this region for peaceful coexistence and cooperation. We are very encouraged and feel blessed to be a part of this nation."