Christmas preparations across the Middle East – in pictures
A woman dressed as Santa Claus rides her bicycle at Baharka camp for displaced people in Erbil, Iraq. Reuters
Santa Claus dives in the Dubai Aquarium in Dubai Mall, as part of Christmas celebrations. Antonie Robertson / The National
Young people take a selfie in front of a shop selling Christmas decorations in Tehran, Iran. Approximately 150,000 Christians live in Iran, mostly Armenians, who celebrate Christmas in churches and at home. Many Muslim families have adopted, Christmas customs, buying presents and Christmas trees. EPA
People gather to celebrate the lighting of a Christmas tree set up between the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy and the Al Tawhid mosque, in Syria's northern city of Aleppo. AFP
A Christmas tree at a festive market in the city of Fuheis, near Amman, Jordan. Reuters
Christmas illuminations in downtown Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters
Women take a selfie with a Christmas tree at a coffee shop in Gaza city, in the Gaza Strip. AFP
The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reuters
People gather around the giant Christmas tree outside the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Israel's northern city of Nazareth. AFP
A Palestinian woman decorates outside her hairdressing salon ahead of Christmas in Gaza city. AFP
Red Christmas trees in the window display of a home store in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Bloomberg
A priest sets up a cave during Christmas preparations at the Catholic church of Visitation in the West Bank village of Zababde, near Jenin. AFP
A Christmas tree is seen at Al Wasl Plaza at Expo 2020 Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Reuters
People walk past a Christmas tree next to Taksim Mosque in Istanbul. AP
Members of the Latin Catholic clergy gather at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, the traditional place of Christ's birth. AFP
A diver dressed as Santa Claus greets visitors at the Dubai Mall aquarium. AFP
People walk in the Old City of Damascus, which is decorated for the approaching Christmas holidays. AP
People wearing festive hats take part in a Christmas run along the corniche in Beirut. AFP
People wearing Santa Claus outfits walk the streets before Christmas in Al Hamdaniya, Iraq. Reuters
An Iraqi Christian family buys candies ahead of Christmas at a store in Al Hamdaniya. Reuters
A child decorates her home ahead of Christmas in Al Hamdaniya, Iraq. Reuters
Palestinian Christian children attend the lighting of a Christmas tree at the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Gaza city. AFP
An Iraqi Christian family looks for Christmas decorations in Al Hamdaniya, Iraq. Reuters
Palestinians walk by a Christmas tree on a cold day in the West Bank city of Ramallah. AFP
An Iraqi Christian family attends Mass in Al Hamdaniya. Reuters
The streets of the Old City of Damascus are decorated with Christmas ornaments. EPA
People shop at the Tahtakale Bazaar in Istanbul. EPA
Kuwaiti Muslims distribute sweets during Christmas mass at the National Evangelical Church in Kuwait City. AFP