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 as Apostolic Vicar of Arabia (UAE, Oman, Yemen, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia). In 2011, when the Vicariates of Kuwait and Arabia were reorganised into the Vicariates of Northern Arabia and Southern Arabia respectively, Bishop Paul became the first Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia which encompasses the UAE, Oman and 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.

On 13 May 2020, Bishop Paul was appointed as the Apostolic Administrator of Northern Arabia (Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia).

On 1 May 2022, the Holy Father appointed Bishop Paul as the Apostolic Administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, following his retirement and and until the canonical installation of the newly appointed Apostolic Vicar Southern Arabia, Bishop Paulo Martinelli OFM Cap.