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Inside Dubai expat's Christmas celebrations

Dubai - Thanks to Dubai's diverse population observing Christmas in the emirate is something all expats do differently

Way back when, there was a time in Dubai when celebrating Christmas was severely limited. Nowadays, that is but a thing of the past with the city becoming more diverse, expats enjoying the city's openness and embracing His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's , Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, message of tolerance.
One needs only to go to common gathering places such as Zabeel Park to catch a glimpse of the many people having Christmas parties and it's not only families, mind you. Even whole companies hold Christmas parties in the park too.
We spoke to several Dubai expats and asked them how they celebrate the holiday.
For many Filipino expats going to church has been a cornerstone of their Christmas culture. Filipino expat Eliza who has been in Dubai for five years told us: "Me and my friends always go to the church in Oud Metha to attend 'simbang gabi' or evening mass in English. Here we pray and listen to Christmas stories which inspire us to do good. There is a legend in our culture that says that if you complete all of those masses you can make a wish and it will come true."
Charlotte Anthonissen, a Dutch expat living in Dubai, spoke about many of her family's traditions back in Holland. "In Christmas Eve, we watch a show called 'All You Need is Love.' It's about families and loved ones coming together on Christmas. On Christmas morning, we eat with the whole family and everyone prepares a dish. We do this every year," she said.
Sales executive Ronald opts for a simple Christmas celebration with his family who are also living in Dubai. "Way back when, me and my family used to have lavish Christmas celebrations. Nowadays, we opt for more modest celebrations with close family members and a hearty meal," he said.
Margaux, who lives with her friends in Al Barsha, is organizing a party with her friends. "Right now, we're cooking the food for the party later and have invited friends over to come and enjoy a good time with some classic Christmas songs. Then come Christmas morning, I go out and pray."
With expats making up almost 90% of the population, according to the World Economic Forum, it's safe to say that one can definitely have a white Christmas in a city surrounded by the desert.
Some names have been changed on request