Dubai: Some expatriates may not be able to go home for Christmas, but geography isn’t getting in the way of the fun-filled preparations.
With Christmas eve on Wednesday, residents are visiting places across Dubai to show their children Christmas trees and decorations.
Malls are also popular last-minute destinations for expatriates to wrap up their shopping.
Gulf News spoke to expatriates about their plans for Christmas this year and how it feels to celebrate away from home.
“It’s really nice to celebrate Christmas here in Dubai because there are Christmas trees and decorations set up almost everywhere you go, and you feel like there are lots of different faiths taking part in the celebration,” said Josephine Kiernan, 26, from England. “Everyone comes together as a community to enjoy the holidays, and I’ve always loved that about Dubai.”
Lucy Holmes from the UK, who is buying last-minute Christmas gifts, said it is the first time in four years that she is celebrating Christmas away from home.
She said she had to get many things done before the big brunch she plans to have with her family and friends on the December 25.
“Normally, I travel back home to celebrate Christmas, but this year my husband and I wanted to try something different. During Christmas Eve we love spending it at home watching It’s a Wonderful Life and having white chocolate. We also prepare different deserts for the occasion and organise a Christmas party,” she said.
Holmes has already taken her son to different places in Dubai to enjoy the festivities. She has also prepared a special activity for him at home this year.
“My son is already fully immersed in all the Christmas events, and we have more things prepared to surprise him. We have arranged a small activity at home to teach him more about the Christian faith” she said.
As for Rania Sherfan from Lebanon, celebrating with her loved ones for the first time in 13 years, is the best thing about Christmas this year.
“There is nothing more I could have asked for this Christmas. My whole family has come here from different parts of the world to celebrate Christmas in Dubai. We are planning to celebrate Christmas Eve at home where someone will be dressing up as Santa to surprise the kids, and then the next day we are planning to head to church to pray,” she said.
Sherfan said she enjoys celebrating Christmas in Dubai every year, and that she never felt like she was away from home “because the Christmas spirit is everywhere.”
Sony Mathew from India plans to travel to Muscat with his family, but before doing so, he wanted his children to so see the Christmas decorations at the malls.
“This is our main and most important festival, and every year, before the 25th, we love going around Dubai to look at the decorations set up for Christmas. Usually we celebrate at home with the family, but this year we thought we should go to Muscat for a change,” he said.
Charlene Graham-Dayoub from Scotland said: “I prefer celebrating Christmas here because it’s freezing back home, and we’ve got plenty of family and friends here. Although It doesn’t feel so much like Christmas here, compared to the UK where there are too many decorations, music, and crowds everywhere, but that’s not a bad thing because it’s always easier to shop here than there.”
