Christmas in Dubai

[MaidenScotland]

I think Dubai tends to be a bit more upmarket than Cairo. Fake Christmas trees are a throw back to the 60s here, they resemble lavatory brushes the live alternative is the top of a leylandi tree. We have a Spinneys here but people who have been to Dubai say Cairo it isn't a patch on
it. I have over the years bought beautiful glass christmas baubles for my grandchildren's tree and now in Spain they have a tree filled with glass....camels, pyramids... aladin lamps... slippers...palm trees, from Scotland to Cairo Cairo to England England to Spain lol

[Ogri750]

Christmas here is what you make it.

I didn't go back to the UK last Christmas, and I won't be going back this year either. I had a great time last year, and hopefuuly will be the same again this one

[cairogal]

Originally Posted by MaidenScotland

I think Dubai tends to be a bit more upmarket than Cairo. Fake Christmas trees are a throw back to the 60s here, they resemble lavatory brushes the live alternative is the top of a leylandi tree. We have a Spinneys here but people who have been to Dubai say Cairo it isn't a patch on
it. I have over the years bought beautiful glass christmas baubles for my grandchildren's tree and now in Spain they have a tree filled with glass....camels, pyramids... aladin lamps... slippers...palm trees, from Scotland to Cairo Cairo to England England to Spain lol

I've done a few Cairo xmases myself...I think that having the Christian population in Egypt (who don't celebrate on Dec. 25) made a bit of a difference. Hotels and some malls put decorations and occasionally music piped in. I was teaching, and my school (predmoninantly Muslim Egyptians) insisted that we do something xmas related in the infant department. I think my students made ornaments, other teachers had xmas trees, etc. We also got xmas off(something that only happens in certain k-12 institutions here). We paid the Marriot Bakery on a few occasions to provide the roast turkey (something we can get Spinneys here to do). Things like cranberries were hard to find, but cheap and dangerous xmas lights were in great abundance. I don't know that I prefer the UAE to Dubai this time of year. We certainly have access to more of those special items from home here in the UAE.

[Xpat]

Originally Posted by Ogri750

You will be able to buy plenty of decorations etc, with a good selection at Ace Hardware in Festival City

And dont forget Eyecatchers inside Festival city, they have some great decorations too!

[Fatenhappy]

Had to laugh ...

We were at IKEA at Festival City the other day and right there near the check outs were (already) lovelly Xmas decorations, trees, front door art etc, We were so impressed we went to purchase all and sundry, only to find out .... "oh no sir, we don't carry any Xmas Trees, these are only for decoration " !!!!..... go figure ??

If you can't buy the tree you most probably wont bother buying the baubles etc!!

[rhajjar]

Oooh god,
that's the only things that kills my heart....
I used to enjoy Christmas back home... with lots of joyfully spirits and lots of decorations and family stuff ...
I usually prefer to go home to spend Christmas and this year I'm following up my family to Paris to spend it there....
after 2 years in Dubai I find Christmas here very sad... dunno why but it's my feelings.

hope you all feel different than this and wish you all a very early merry Christmas.

best regards.
Rashad

[karlamirdif]

Ive had Christmas here for the past two years whilst I enjoyed it Im really hoping I can get back to UK this year! The last two years I was at uni so was coming out to visit my family and it was a nice break but now im living here im missing the xmas spirit like crazy!! I know its only november but thats the UKs fault for starting xmas so early!! I was watching UK TV live the other day and there were so many christmas adverts that made me very homesick!
One thing I hate here...... Xmas shopping is sooo expensive and you can never find what you want! I miss shops like argos and h samuels! I found whilst there was less of the hustling xmas buyers here there were still lots of carols and trees everywhere to know that its happening!
Im missing christmas weather, I want to wake up on christmas day in big wooly PJs, slippers and next to a warm radiator! I think im just homesick altogether!!