Dubai stores expect rush-ins in search of festive items

Dubai: Every store in Dubai or in any other part of the world is witnessing an extraordinary demand for all the joyful items that usually accompany the unforgettable occasion of December 25 every year.

Christmas is knocking at the door and people have an immense pleasure in receiving the occasion perfectly. Gulf News finds out about the Christmas buying habits more from Dharmendra Mohnani the manager of Park.n.shop LLC in Dubai.

"Natural Christmas trees are usually received within 15 days before the occasion and their country of origin is Holland and the quantity doesn't exceed 75 natural Christmas trees every season."

"We receive 300 artificial trees and most of them got sold swiftly, so we hardly have any of them left over," he said.

"Natural Christmas trees are very few because after a little while almost within 10 to 15 days of purchase even if the weather is good they start getting dry, needles fall a part, and get pale, not to mention their high prices in comparison with the artificial ones," he explained. "We import them from Holland and that is basically based on our customers order because some of our customers prefer to have a natural Christmas tree even if it gets damaged quickly but according to them it's an occasion that's celebrated once in a year so its better then to get the natural tree."

"However, aside from customer's orders we still get extra natural Christmas trees just incase any walk in customer might be interested to get them and that actually happens frequently as most of the customers buy more than one tree to keep them in different parts of their houses. As a matter of fact, some of our customers even buy small Christmas trees for their little ones just to please them and make them feel the joy of the occasion," he said.

Prices vary between natural and artificial Christmas trees. The natural options can fetch almost double the price of the artificial ones, he said.

GIFT SEARCHING

LAST-MINUTE BUYS

Dubai's malls have reported a brisk trade ahead of the yearly last-minute rush to buy presents on Christmas Eve.

Thousands of people across the city are expected to descend on the city's vast array of malls today in the search for that elusive gift.

Fareed Abdul Rahman, VP and Divisional Asset Management of Majid Al Futtaim Properties said: "Mall of the Emirates and Deira City Centre have always been favourite destinations for both tourists and residents, offering visitors great value and the best choice."

"We are confident that in good.. and challenging times, these two things will remain important to our customers..."

The economic downturn may be effecting many residents' pockets but it seems many people are determined to get into the festive spirit.

Timings: Church services

St Mary's Church - holy mass 6am and 6.45am. Evening mass (English) 3.30pm, 7pm, carol singing 11.30pm. Solemn high mass 12 midnight. Holy mass (French) 5pm, and Arabic 9pm

Holy Trinity Church - midnight Eucharist 11pm.

King's Revival Church International Ministries - Main English Christmas Worship Service 10pm-12.30am

Dubai Mar Thoma Church, Jebel Ali, Christmas holy communion and Christmas carols 8pm.

Christmas Day

Holy Trinity Church - holy communion 8am. Family communion 9.30am. Urdu Christmas Worship Service 10.30am - 1.30pm.

St Mary's Church - morning Holy Mass 5.30am, 7am and 8.30am. A 10am mass for parents and children and again at 11.30am. English evening holy masses 3pm, 4.30pm, 6pm, 7.30pm and Arabic 9pm. There will be no baptism ceremonies on this day.

Boxing Day (feast of Saint Stephen): Holy Trinity Church - morning mass 6am, 7.15am, 9am, and 10.15am. Arabic mass 11.30am and Tagalog 12.30pm. Later day mass 3.30pm, 4.45pm, 6.15pm and Arabic 8pm.

What are the most creative Christmas decorations you have bought?