Abu Dhabi/Al Ain: Residents on last minute Christmas shopping sprees said they felt the impact of increased prices compared to last year.
Despite the price hikes, the Christmas spirit was very alive as people throng-ed the shopping centres for last-minute gifts and posed for pictures next to Christmas trees and Santa Claus.
Many were scouring shops to find the right Christmas gifts for their loved ones. Helen McClare held her one-year-old grandchild as she posed for pictures in front of a Christmas tree; she had just finished getting her son, grandchild and daughter-in-law Christmas presents. She felt prices were reasonable in the UAE, especially for clothes and baby outfits.
Portuguese pilot Antonio Praca, who was visiting the UAE for the first time, said he was surprised to see the malls festooned with Christmas trees and decorations.
Large selection
"I did not expect to see all these festive decorations in a Muslim country and I am impressed and happy to see this Christmas spirit."
Jonah Pabile from the Philippines thinks prices have gone up this Christmas, but appreciates the large selection of gifts available.
"A couple of years ago, Christmas trees were not put up in local malls and there were hardly any Christmas-related presents to choose from. The UAE has come a long way, even though prices of products are increasing by the day."
A South African who moved with her family to Al Ain three years ago told Gulf News she feels they do not have the luxury of shopping in different malls and shopping centres like others living in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, so they start their Christmas shopping earlier, which also helps to avoid the crowds.
"I normally finish my Christmas shopping by November; having tried to make the most of all the sales as they occur towards the end of the year. This year, however, we finished our Christmas shopping a little later than planned and definitely felt the pinch and saw prices rocketing the closer we got to the festive season," said Monique Holtzhausen,
She said she brought a couple of special traditional Christmas treats from South Africa during a recent trip home because she knew from past experience the selection of festive food is not as wide or as reasonably priced in the UAE.
An employee in a sweet shop located in one of the local malls told Gulf News that one kg of sweets now costs Dh60, at leas Dh10 more than the price last year.
"The prices of transporting these sweets from different countries such as Holland, Turkey, Spain and the UK has gone up, not just during Christmas, but in general. There's a general hike on all products, not just sweets," said Danilo Cuntapay, a Filipino shop assistant.
Briton Jeff Charton feels that compared to last year prices have shot up.
"They say the UAE is a tax-free country, but in reality the prices of products are comparable to tax paying countries. Goods in the UAE are being sold at prices similar to those in the UK. I don't feel any difference."
Schedule: church services
The Marthoma Church, Jebel Ali Christmas Eve mass at 8pm which continues until midnight. More than 2,500 people are expected for the mass. Bishop Joseph Mar Barnabas will celebrate the Holy Communion Mass.
United Christian Church, Jebel Ali Christmas Eve mass at 7.30pm, Christmas Day mass at 10am.
St Michael Church, Sharjah Christmas mass in English today will start at the following timings - 6:30pm, 8:30pm, while the Christmas eve vigil mass will start at 11:30pm.
On Christmas Day masses in English will start at 6:15am, 8am, 9:30am, Tamil and Konkani mass at 10:30am while in Arabic it will be held at 12noon.
At 3pm -Thiru-Malavar and Tagalog mass, 5:30pm English mass, 8:15pm, Malayalam mass and Arabic mass.
St Mary's Church, Dubai Christmas Eve morning holy mass at 6am and 6:45am.
Evening solemn high mass - 12:00 midnight
Christmas Day morning holy mass 5:30am, 7am and 8:30 (English)
10am (English for parents and children). Evening holy mass - 3pm, 4:30pm, 6pm, 7:30pm (English), 9pm (Arabic).
Dubai Orthodox Church Christmas Eve mass at 6:30pm.
Your comments
Merry Christmas to all my friends.
Gulam Ali
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: December 25, 2007, 13:16
As an expat from the UK, it is an enlightening and welcome surprise to see Christmas being celebrated so freely and openly in an Islamic country. This is something that other parts of the world can learn from. Additionally, people don't indulge in alcohol here resulting in fewer drunken crimes. Merry Christmas.
From Manoj
Abu Dhabi
UAE
Posted: December 24, 2007, 08:08
