Christmas in Abu Dhabi

I am sure that there are many of you who wonder what it is like to spend Christmas in a Muslim country. I cannot speak of all Muslim countries, but I have spent a few here in the UAE. There are certainly some obvious differences. Firstly Christmas Day is a normal working day. Anyone who who is not on annual leave and wishes to spend the day with family must take a days personal leave. Christians are not given the day off as a matter of course.

This is in line with the weekend being Friday and Saturday, the Muslim sabbath being the Friday. Sundays are a normal working day. In fact for many years the weekend was Thursday and Friday and has only changed to Friday and Saturday a few years ago. The change has been attributed to respect for the many non Muslim residents. I suspect though that a need to fit in an extra working day in sync with their main trading partners might be nearer the truth.

Not to say that there is no respect for Christians in this country. Quite the contrary Christianity is allowed to be openly practised and there are many churches in the Emirates. Trolling the malls, as is my wont, you would be hard pressed to believe you were in the Middle East. Christmas trees are everywhere. Window displays have winter scenes, after all it is winter here despite the fact that the temperatures outside are in the mid 30s.

If you thought this is the place to get away from constant Christmas muzak think again. Bing Crosby, Michael Buble et al play away in the background at all the malls and most restaurants. The shops are selling Christmas trees and all the decor and trimmings. If you like you could even find an ornamental manger scene. Our local supermarket even has ornamental Jesus on the Cross which perhaps gives away the fact that the buyer might not be a Christian.

The supermarkets also have mince pies, Christmas puddings, Turkeys and all the trimmings. Celebrants from the Southern Hemisphere would feel quite at home celebrating a hot weather Christmas. It is a huge testament to the leadership of this country and to the adherents of the Muslim faith that the Emiratis so happily co exist in this manner. It is a role model for multi cultural and religious co existence and gives hope to a desire that all the world be so.

'Til next post... A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL