diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/sh-fix-ci-lint-500-error.yml b/changelogs/unreleased/sh-fix-ci-lint-500-error.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..74d9f980d46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/sh-fix-ci-lint-500-error.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+title: Fix 500 error in CI lint when included templates are an array
+merge_request: 32232
+author:
+type: fixed
diff --git a/doc/ci/yaml/README.md b/doc/ci/yaml/README.md
index 38276de6791..10255f768e6 100644
--- a/doc/ci/yaml/README.md
+++ b/doc/ci/yaml/README.md
@@ -2171,6 +2171,14 @@ include:
   - template: Auto-DevOps.gitlab-ci.yml
 ```
 
+Multiple `include:template` files:
+
+```yaml
+include:
+  - template: Android-Fastlane.gitlab-ci.yml
+  - template: Auto-DevOps.gitlab-ci.yml
+```
+
 All [nested includes](#nested-includes) will be executed only with the permission of the user,
 so it is possible to use project, remote or template includes.
 
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/ci/config/external/file/base.rb b/lib/gitlab/ci/config/external/file/base.rb
index 2ffbb214a92..c56d33544ba 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/ci/config/external/file/base.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/ci/config/external/file/base.rb
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ module Gitlab
               location.present?
             end
 
+            def invalid_location_type?
+              !location.is_a?(String)
+            end
+
             def invalid_extension?
               location.nil? || !::File.basename(location).match?(YAML_WHITELIST_EXTENSION)
             end
@@ -71,7 +75,9 @@ module Gitlab
             end
 
             def validate_location!
-              if invalid_extension?
+              if invalid_location_type?
+                errors.push("Included file `#{location}` needs to be a string")
+              elsif invalid_extension?
                 errors.push("Included file `#{location}` does not have YAML extension!")
               end
             end
diff --git a/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/config/external/file/base_spec.rb b/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/config/external/file/base_spec.rb
index dd536a241bd..af995f4869a 100644
--- a/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/config/external/file/base_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/config/external/file/base_spec.rb
@@ -41,6 +41,12 @@ describe Gitlab::Ci::Config::External::File::Base do
   end
 
   describe '#valid?' do
+    context 'when location is not a string' do
+      let(:location) { %w(some/file.txt other/file.txt) }
+
+      it { is_expected.not_to be_valid }
+    end
+
     context 'when location is not a YAML file' do
       let(:location) { 'some/file.txt' }