Middle East:

In most Middle Eastern countries, forms of Christmas celebration are rarely found among the non-Christians. Christians from all over the world travel to Israel and Palestine to visit the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem and other sacred sites of historical significance to Christians. The St. Nicholas festival is celebrated in Myra, Turkey.

Dubai has the most decorations throughout the Middle East due to the vast amount of Christians/ Catholics living there as expatriates. The majority of shopping malls and hotels are full of decorations and most businesses are not open on Christmas Day. Santa makes an appearance at most of the malls, where there is an endless chorus of Christmas music.

In Abu Dhabi, which is more conservative, Christmas is not celebrated by the local Muslim people as their religion/culture and celebrated holidays are based on the religion of Islam. Expatriate Christians celebrate Christmas in the UAE at home and because of the variety of the different expatriate nations represented in the UAE, each family will celebrate as they would back in their home country.