Bishop Paul Hinder was born in Bussnang TG, Switzerland, on 22 April 1942 to Wilhelm Hinder and Agnes Meile. 

He joined the Franciscan Capuchin Order in 1962 and was ordained a priest on 4 July 1967. After specialized studies in Canon Law in Munich and Fribourg, he obtained his Doctorate in Theology in 1976. He was active as a professor, in the formation of young Capuchins, later as provincial in Switzerland and as General Councillor in Rome for the worldwide Capuchin Order. 

On 20 December 2003, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Arabia and was ordained Bishop on 30 January 2004 in Abu Dhabi. On 21 March 2005 he succeeded Msgr. Bernardo Gremoli (now retired) as Vicar Apostolic of Arabia (UAE, Oman, Yemen, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia). After the Vicariate of Arabia was divided into the Northern and Southern Vicariates, Bishop Paul was appointed the shepherd of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia (UAE, Oman, Yemen). 

Bishop Paul is a member of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples (presently absorbed into the Dicastery of Integral Human Development). He has also served as consultor to both the Congregation for the Evangalization of Peoples (for two consecutive five year terms beginning 2009) and to the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

Since 13 May 2020, Bishop Paul has also been appointed as the Apostolic Administrator of the Vicariate of Northern Arabia (Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia).

Update (1 May 2022):
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Paul Hinder and appointed H. E. Msgr. Paolo Martinelli OFM Cap. as the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia on 1 May 2022. 

“Un Vescovo In Arabia” 
Read the text of an interview with Bishop Paul Hinder on the life of the Church in the Persian Gulf.

The interview refers to his book "Un Vescovo in Arabia. La mia esperienza con l’islam" (A Bishop in Arabia: My Expereice with Islam).