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

He joined the Franciscan Capuchin Order in 1962 and was ordained a priest on July 4, 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 December 20, 2003, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Arabia and was ordained Bishop on January 30, 2004 in Abu Dhabi. On March 21, 2005 he succeeded Msgr. Bernardo Gremoli, now retired in Florence, Italy, 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 shepherds 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, a consultor to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. He is also a member of the Conference of the Latin Bishops of the Middle East.