• A woman dressed as Santa Claus rides her bicycle at Baharka camp for displaced people in Erbil, Iraq. Reuters
    A woman dressed as Santa Claus rides her bicycle at Baharka camp for displaced people in Erbil, Iraq. Reuters
  • Santa Claus dives in the Dubai Aquarium in Dubai Mall, as part of Christmas celebrations. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Santa Claus dives in the Dubai Aquarium in Dubai Mall, as part of Christmas celebrations. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Young people take a selfie in front of a shop selling Christmas decorations in Tehran, Iran. Approximately 150,000 Christians live in Iran, mostly Armenians, who celebrate Christmas in churches and at home. Many Muslim families have adopted, Christmas customs, buying presents and Christmas trees. EPA
    Young people take a selfie in front of a shop selling Christmas decorations in Tehran, Iran. Approximately 150,000 Christians live in Iran, mostly Armenians, who celebrate Christmas in churches and at home. Many Muslim families have adopted, Christmas customs, buying presents and Christmas trees. EPA
  • People gather to celebrate the lighting of a Christmas tree set up between the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy and the Al Tawhid mosque, in Syria's northern city of Aleppo. AFP
    People gather to celebrate the lighting of a Christmas tree set up between the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy and the Al Tawhid mosque, in Syria's northern city of Aleppo. AFP
  • A Christmas tree at a festive market in the city of Fuheis, near Amman, Jordan. Reuters
    A Christmas tree at a festive market in the city of Fuheis, near Amman, Jordan. Reuters
  • Christmas illuminations in downtown Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters
    Christmas illuminations in downtown Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters
  • Women take a selfie with a Christmas tree at a coffee shop in Gaza city, in the Gaza Strip. AFP
    Women take a selfie with a Christmas tree at a coffee shop in Gaza city, in the Gaza Strip. AFP
  • The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reuters
    The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reuters
  • People gather around the giant Christmas tree outside the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Israel's northern city of Nazareth. AFP
    People gather around the giant Christmas tree outside the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Israel's northern city of Nazareth. AFP
  • A Palestinian woman decorates outside her hairdressing salon ahead of Christmas in Gaza city. AFP
    A Palestinian woman decorates outside her hairdressing salon ahead of Christmas in Gaza city. AFP
  • Red Christmas trees in the window display of a home store in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Bloomberg
    Red Christmas trees in the window display of a home store in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Bloomberg
  • A priest sets up a cave during Christmas preparations at the Catholic church of Visitation in the West Bank village of Zababde, near Jenin. AFP
    A priest sets up a cave during Christmas preparations at the Catholic church of Visitation in the West Bank village of Zababde, near Jenin. AFP
  • A Christmas tree is seen at Al Wasl Plaza at Expo 2020 Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Reuters
    A Christmas tree is seen at Al Wasl Plaza at Expo 2020 Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Reuters
  • Pedestrians walk past a Christmas tree next to Taksim mosque at Taksim square in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Dec. 10, 2021. (AP Photo / Francisco Seco)
    Pedestrians walk past a Christmas tree next to Taksim mosque at Taksim square in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Dec. 10, 2021. (AP Photo / Francisco Seco)
  • Members of the Latin Catholic clergy gather at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, the traditional place of Christ's birth. AFP
    Members of the Latin Catholic clergy gather at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, the traditional place of Christ's birth. AFP
  • A diver dressed as Santa Claus greets visitors at the Dubai Mall aquarium. AFP
    A diver dressed as Santa Claus greets visitors at the Dubai Mall aquarium. AFP
  • People walk in the Old City of Damascus, which is decorated for the approaching Christmas holidays. AP
    People walk in the Old City of Damascus, which is decorated for the approaching Christmas holidays. AP
  • People wearing festive hats take part in a Christmas run along the corniche in Beirut. AFP
    People wearing festive hats take part in a Christmas run along the corniche in Beirut. AFP
  • People wearing Santa Claus outfits walk the streets before Christmas in Al Hamdaniya, Iraq. Reuters
    People wearing Santa Claus outfits walk the streets before Christmas in Al Hamdaniya, Iraq. Reuters
  • An Iraqi Christian family buys candies ahead of Christmas at a store in Al Hamdaniya. Reuters
    An Iraqi Christian family buys candies ahead of Christmas at a store in Al Hamdaniya. Reuters
  • A child decorates her home ahead of Christmas in Al Hamdaniya, Iraq. Reuters
    A child decorates her home ahead of Christmas in Al Hamdaniya, Iraq. Reuters
  • Palestinian Christian children attend the lighting of a Christmas tree at the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Gaza city. AFP
    Palestinian Christian children attend the lighting of a Christmas tree at the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Gaza city. AFP
  • An Iraqi Christian family looks for Christmas decorations in Al Hamdaniya, Iraq. Reuters
    An Iraqi Christian family looks for Christmas decorations in Al Hamdaniya, Iraq. Reuters
  • Palestinians walk by a Christmas tree on a cold day in the West Bank city of Ramallah. AFP
    Palestinians walk by a Christmas tree on a cold day in the West Bank city of Ramallah. AFP
  • An Iraqi Christian family attends Mass in Al Hamdaniya. Reuters
    An Iraqi Christian family attends Mass in Al Hamdaniya. Reuters
  • The streets of the Old City of Damascus are decorated with Christmas ornaments. EPA
    The streets of the Old City of Damascus are decorated with Christmas ornaments. EPA
  • People shop at the Tahtakale Bazaar in Istanbul. EPA
    People shop at the Tahtakale Bazaar in Istanbul. EPA
  • Kuwaiti Muslims distribute sweets during Christmas mass at the National Evangelical Church in Kuwait City. AFP
    Kuwaiti Muslims distribute sweets during Christmas mass at the National Evangelical Church in Kuwait City. AFP

MENA

Christmas preparations around the Mena region - in pictures

From Iraq to Lebanon, people get into the Christmas spirit

The National

December 21, 2021

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  • Arabic
Updated: December 21, 2021, 8:49 AM