Native name: جزيرة السينية (Arabic) | |
|---|---|
  Siniyah Island Location within the United Arab Emirates  Siniyah Island Siniyah Island (Asia) | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Persian Gulf |
| Coordinates | 25°36′53″N 55°38′4″E / 25.61472°N 55.63444°E |
| Highest elevation | 3 m (10 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Emirate | Umm Al Quwain |
Siniyah Island (Jazīrat as Sīnīyah, Arabic: جزيرة السينية) is a natural island situated off the coast of the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is the site of the oldest pearl fishing town in the Persian Gulf, as well as of an Eastern Christian Monastery and Bishop's Palace. The island's name means 'flashing lights', thought to be a reference to the harsh sunlight of the area.[1]
Siniyah has been identified through recent archaeological and archival work as the potential centre of the lost ancient town and region of Tu'am or Tawwam, with the name Tu'am ultimately derived from St Thomas the Apostle of the East.[2]
- ^ "Christian monastery possibly pre-dating Islam found in UAE". AP NEWS. 2022-11-03. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ^ Power, Tim (2024-06-21). "How the excavation of Tu'am will help fill in the holes of our historical knowledge". The National. Retrieved 2024-06-22.