By Zein Ja'Far, Sky News Producer
One of the few female priests in the Middle East, and the first one to be ordained in the United Arab Emirates, has told Sky News she backs the cause of women to become bishops.
The Reverend Jo Henderson, who is based at St Andrew's Church in Abu Dhabi, said: "I do support the fight for women to become bishops.
"I think women have an awful lot to give to the church, a whole different dimension, and I believe it is a natural progression.
"I would expect somebody to enter (the church) at a level and progress through the system."
She also described the UAE as a "melting pot" and said she was excited to be working with Christians from such a diverse range of countries and religious traditions.
Thousands of worshippers visit St Andrew's each week and the church hosts 40-guest congregations ranging from the Ethiopian Orthodox to the Indian Pentecostal and Tamil Christian Fellowship.
St Joseph's Catholic Cathedral - which hosts over 100,000 Catholic expats from around the world - and the Egyptian Coptic Church are just a few metres away.
St Joseph's is the biggest church in Abu Dhabi and Father Gandalf, who works there as the Bishop's secretary, says there are still challenges when it comes to religious freedom in the country.
He said: "The UAE is certainly the country which gives the greatest freedom to Christians in the Arabian Peninsula.
"I hope that the good understanding which exists especially in this country, but even in other countries, means we can live peacefully but we would like to have some more freedom. Freedom of worship, on the whole, we have, but it's limited to our places (of worship)."
There are thought to be around 800,000 Christians in the country with churches in all of the seven Emirates. Christian leaders have praised the religious tolerance of the authorities in comparison to the strict approach taken by neighbouring states - namely Saudi Arabia - who do not allow people to practise Christianity openly.
The Reverend Canon Andy Thompson, who runs St Andrew's, told Sky News: "It just goes to demonstrate how unique the UAE is in their hospitality to the Christian community. It does make them stand out in comparison to other Islamic nations."
But recent turmoil across the Middle East has led prominent figures, most recently Prince Charles, to voice concerns about the security and safety of Christians in the region.
Reverend Canon Thompson said: "The Middle East is a big area with many different countries, with many different styles of government and ethos. So, I think, Prince Charles' comments were very relevant to certain countries in the Middle East, but it certainly doesn't apply to all the countries in the Middle East."
An Anglican church built last year in the northern Emirate of Ras al-Khaima is the UAE's largest and accommodates 2,000 people.
:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.
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