Christmas services in the UAE – in pictures


  • Christmas Day Mass at St Mary's Church in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Christmas Day Mass at St Mary's Church in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Worshippers outside St Mary's Church in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Worshippers outside St Mary's Church in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Crowds gather for Mass at St Mary's Church in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Crowds gather for Mass at St Mary's Church in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Churchgoers offer prayers in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Churchgoers offer prayers in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • The congregation during Christmas Mass at St Mary's Church in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    The congregation during Christmas Mass at St Mary's Church in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • The procession during Christmas Day Mass at St Joseph’s Cathedral in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    The procession during Christmas Day Mass at St Joseph’s Cathedral in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Praying outside St Joseph's on Christmas Day. Victor Besa / The National
    Praying outside St Joseph's on Christmas Day. Victor Besa / The National
  • Churchgoers spill out into the grounds of St Joseph’s Cathedral in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Churchgoers spill out into the grounds of St Joseph’s Cathedral in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Families came together to offer Christmas Day morning prayers in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Families came together to offer Christmas Day morning prayers in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • The faithful offer prayers on Christmas Day in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    The faithful offer prayers on Christmas Day in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • The Anglican Christ Church in Dubai’s Jebel Ali urged the faithful to take the time to listen. Photo: Christ Church Jebel Ali
    The Anglican Christ Church in Dubai’s Jebel Ali urged the faithful to take the time to listen. Photo: Christ Church Jebel Ali
  • Parishioners at Dubai’s Christ Church queue up to speak to the parish priest. Photo: Christ Church Jebel Ali
    Parishioners at Dubai’s Christ Church queue up to speak to the parish priest. Photo: Christ Church Jebel Ali
  • Gingerbread and Christmas goodies baked by parishioners for those who came in for prayers at Christ Church Jebel Ali. Photo: Christ Church Jebel Ali
    Gingerbread and Christmas goodies baked by parishioners for those who came in for prayers at Christ Church Jebel Ali. Photo: Christ Church Jebel Ali
  • Christians in Ras Al Khaimah came in to pray at midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day on Wednesday asking for blessings for their families. Photo: St Luke Anglican Church
    Christians in Ras Al Khaimah came in to pray at midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day on Wednesday asking for blessings for their families. Photo: St Luke Anglican Church
  • People were urged to live with kindness and to open their hearts to peace and goodwill during a Christmas sermon in Ras Al Khaimah. Photo: St Luke Anglican Church
    People were urged to live with kindness and to open their hearts to peace and goodwill during a Christmas sermon in Ras Al Khaimah. Photo: St Luke Anglican Church
  • The young Ras Al Khaimah resident is among about 800 faithful welcomed at St Luke Anglican Church on Christmas Day. Photo: St Luke Anglican Church
    The young Ras Al Khaimah resident is among about 800 faithful welcomed at St Luke Anglican Church on Christmas Day. Photo: St Luke Anglican Church