Due to international tensions in the 1980s, the church was asked to leave the Jumeirah American School for security reasons.

The building continued to be used for Sunday evening services and other churches’ meetings until the Dubai Municipality ordered the villa's closure in June 2006.

The Villa was also used by other Christian groups, including the Arabic Evangelical Church of Dubai (AECD).

In 1994, an informal group composed of ECCD (then UCCD), AECD, and others applied for a grant of land from the Ruler of Dubai on which to construct a church building.

In 1998, the Ruler of Dubai granted a piece of land to these churches, and fundraising commenced for a building.