Christmas in Dubai

It's funny, as I run around the city, going to the mall and showing my mum all our haunts, you wouldn't know you were in an Islamic country. There are Christmas trees and decorations, there are lights and carols, there are countdowns and cheers. There's fake snow and reindeers and there's Santa.

Christmas is well and truly alive in Dubai. The girls sang Christmas songs at school and did Christmas craft. A couple of weeks ago, as I was buying decorations for our tree, I stood at the shelves wondering whether to get the gold or the silver tinsel and I turned to my right and saw a veiled woman buying up baubles and Santas. I turned to my left and saw a sari-clad woman doing the same. It seems that just as we were happy to celebrate Eid and Diwali, everyone else is happy to join in on the Christmas caper.

I love the tolerance of this country. It's not going to be like a Christmas at home, there won't be a Boxing Day, there won't be a trail of family to visit, and there are many people we are missing, but it's still Christmas. Santa makes a drop off in Dubai, so the kids don't miss out. We'll eat our turkey and trimmings, we'll open our presents and enjoy being together.

I hope you all do the same, wherever you are and with whoever you share the day. Have a wonderful and joyous Christmas!