They want to build a new worship center.

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) has partnered with the Evangelical Churches Alliance in Qatar (ECAQ) for the groundbreaking of a new worship center near Doha, Qatar. This significant event took place on January 24, marking the start of a US $50 million project that will accommodate up to 10,000 Evangelical Christians for worship. The land for this project has been leased at no cost by the Qatari government, but ECAQ is seeking support from the WEA and international donors to raise the necessary funds to complete the construction by 2028.

Qatar, a small nation with a population of 2.7 million, is predominantly composed of expatriates (88%). Around 15% of the population identifies as Christian, including workers from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. While Qatar is a Muslim-majority country with strict rules on religious practices, it allows expats from registered religious groups to worship privately. Evangelism, however, is prohibited, and Muslims are not permitted to convert.

For years, Evangelical expat churches in Qatar have gathered in homes or rented spaces, unable to build permanent churches. Recently, the Qatari government granted permission for ECAQ to construct a worship center on a plot of land leased to them. The site is part of the Mesaimeed Religious Complex near Doha, where other Christian denominations have built worship facilities since 2005. After years of advocacy, ECAQ was allocated land in 2013, but the original plot was reclaimed for strategic reasons. In 2023, the government granted a larger plot, significantly increasing the project’s cost.

The planned worship center will include multiple worship halls, event spaces, a coffee shop, and a bookstore. It will also feature an auditorium that seats up to 1,700 people, as well as smaller venues for gatherings ranging from 50 to 500 attendees. Once completed, the center is expected to host 10,000 worshippers at one time.

Founded in 2005 by Filipino churches, ECAQ now includes 128 member churches serving over 17,000 Christians, primarily Filipinos, along with communities from Africa, India, the Middle East, and Korea. Despite the land being provided for free, ECAQ faces the challenge of funding the construction and is turning to international partners, particularly WEA and Korean churches, for support.

The groundbreaking ceremony was celebrated as a significant milestone, with WEA Deputy Secretary General Rev. Samuel Chiang calling it “a spiritual act of worship.” Rev. Yeonjong Ju of Sarang Church in Seoul also attended, suggesting that Korean churches may play a key role in funding the project. ECAQ has launched a fundraising campaign under the theme “Building a Monumental Legacy Together In the Middle East For His Glory.”

ECAQ’s President, Bishop Beda Robles, expressed hope that the worship center will further the mission of the Gospel in Qatar and the broader Middle East. Despite the provision of land and government approval, religious freedoms in Qatar remain limited, particularly for Muslims considering conversion and for expatriate Christians engaging in proselytizing. Religious conversion from Islam is prohibited, and missionary activities are restricted. The U.S. State Department’s 2023 report on religious freedom in Qatar highlights these constraints, noting the potential for imprisonment for promoting any religion other than Islam.

Qatar is ranked 41st on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List of countries where Christians face persecution. Although migrant Christians can worship in designated spaces, Qatari citizens are forbidden from attending, and Christian activity is closely monitored. Those from Muslim backgrounds who follow Christianity often face significant risks, including harassment, surveillance, and the need to keep their faith hidden.

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