The best Christmas lights in the Middle East

Around 15 million Christians live in the region but Christmas is popular with families of various faiths

Female worshippers chant at Christmas morning mass in the Syriac Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary in Qamishli, Syria. AFP

Christian devotees take part in a Christmas prayer at St John's Cathedral Church in Peshawar. AFP

Christian worshippers listen to the Christmas Eve mass inside the Church of the Holy Heart of Jesus in Podgorica, Montenegro. AFP

People gather round a Christmas tree in Beirut's Martyr Square. AFP

A priest swings burners with incense at St Joseph's Catholic Church in Cairo. AP

Egyptian Catholic nuns pray during the Christmas Eve mass at St Joseph's Catholic Church in Cairo. AP

Christian worshippers attend a Christmas morning service at the Catholic Co-Cathedral of the Holy Family in Kuwait City. AFP

A woman takes a selfie outside the Catholic Co-Cathedral of the Holy Family in Kuwait City on Christmas Day. AFP

Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, holds a midnight Christmas mass at the Church of the Nativity in the Palestinian town of Bethlehem. EPA

Visitors inside the holy cave at the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem. Reuters

A Palestinian makes olive wood souvenirs near the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem. Reuters

A Palestinian youth looks at Santa Claus dolls at a shop in Gaza city. AP

A man controls a drone fixed to a Santa Claus figurine, in Aintoura, north of the Lebanese capital Beirut. AFP

Santa Claus - real name Issa Kassissieh - swaps his traditional reindeer for a camel at Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem's Old City. Reuters

A Christmas tree towers inside a mall in Hazmieh, Lebanon. Reuters

A 'Santa Claus' next to graffiti reading 'Palestine' in Arabic on Israel's separation wall in the Palestinian city of Bethlehem. AFP

Parade members play music at the Christmas market in Byblos, Lebanon. Reuters

A Palestinian takes a selfie near a Christmas tree in Gaza city. AFP

The Christmas tree in Al Hatab Square in Aleppo, Syria. AFP

An Iraqi family decorates a Christmas tree at their house in Basra. AP

Issa Kassissieh, dressed as Santa Claus, on Mount Precipice near Nazareth in northern Israel. Reuters

Santa's Grotto in Galleria Mall, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A Palestinian crafts figurines at a workshop in Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank. AFP

Christmas decoration in The Greens, Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Winter Wonderland at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Daniel Shawky, 5, in snow at Winter Wonderland, held outside Galleria Mall, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Visitors watch fireworks at the Winter Wonderland Kuwait during its grand opening in Kuwait City, on December 11, 2022. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)

Workers set up a Christmas tree in Al Hatab Square, in Aleppo, northern Syrian. The city has been devastated in the country's civil war. AFP

Santa Claus attends a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Jerusalem's Old City. Reuters

Fireworks at the lighting of a Christmas tree at the Jaffa Gate of the Old City of Jerusalem. AFP

A 18-metre Christmas tree stands at the gateway to Bnachii Lake, Zgharta district, northern Lebanon. It was made using 108,000 discarded plastic bottles. EPA

People gather round a giant Christmas tree, which was officially lit up in Byblos, Lebanon. EPA

Palestinians attend a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony in Gaza city, organised by the YMCA. EPA

Byblos, Lebanon. Reuters

Festivities in the Ashrafieh district of Lebanon's capital, Beirut. EPA

Ashrafieh, Beirut. EPA

Festive revellers greet Santa in Sassine Square, Beirut. AFP

Fireworks illuminate Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reuters

Palestinians dressed as Santa Claus and Mrs Claus lead festivities in Bethlehem. Reuters

Visitors admire seasonal illuminations to celebrate Christmas and New Year in the Beirut Souks district of Lebanon's capital. EPA

Shoppers throng beneath the festive illuminations at Beirut Souks. EPA

A crowd watches a festive dance show at Beirut Souks. EPA

A woman and her child visit the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, in Bethlehem, at the start of Advent. AP

A stall at the Christmas market in the West Bank city of Ramallah. EPA

As the region in which Jesus was born begins celebrations of Christmas, cities and towns are lighting up in celebration.

Here are the best from the Middle East:

Lebanon

People gather round a n impressive Christmas tree in Byblos, Lebanon. EPA

Lebanon's ancient city of Byblos made its best effort to put on a show despite a protracted economic crisis that caused the city to skip decorations in 2020.

Regulars commented that the tree was smaller than last year and the celebrations muted compared to five years ago, but still, it warmed locals' hearts. Residents will also be hoping the tree and its accompanying Christmas market will attract some much-needed tourism.

Around 32 per cent of Lebanese are Christian, according to a US report on religious freedom from last year.

Achrafieh and Beirut also showed off their light displays this year.

Palestine

Fireworks light the sky to mark the lighting of a Christmas tree in Bethlehem. AFP

Fireworks lit the sky near the Church of the Nativity this month to kick off Christmas celebrations under the theme of “From Bethlehem to the World: The spirit of Christmas Brings us Together”.

The festivities took four months to prepare and coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Church of the Nativity making the Unesco World Heritage list.

Palestinians dressed as Santa Claus and Mrs.Claus n Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reuters

Christians make up 1 per cent to 2.5 per cent of the West Bank population and less than 1 per cent in the Gaza Strip.

The town also holds a Santa parade.

Syria

Workers set up a Christmas tree at al-Hatab square, one of the oldest in Syria's northern city of Aleppo. AFP

A Christmas tree stands out in the bombed-out city of Aleppo in Syria this year. There is little for residents to be hopeful for as the civil war continues to drag on, particularly in the north.

The UN found attacks in northern Aleppo had killed or injured at least 92 civilians in the first six months of this year, destroying homes, schools, mosques, medical facilities and administrative buildings in the process.

UAE

The Christmas tree at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Santa Claus and his helpers by the Christmas tree at Emirates Palace. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Santa Claus greets children at Emirates Palace. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Families eagerly await the lighting of the Christmas tree. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Musicians play Christmas songs. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

People take photos by the tree. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Families take photos at Emirates Palace. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Visitors snap photos at the Christmas photo booth. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

The Christmas display at Emirates Palace. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Santa Claus greets children during the event. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

People gather for the Expo City Dubai Christmas tree lighting at Al Wasl Plaza, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Santa appears at the tree-lighting ceremony. Pawan Singh / The National

Santa's helpers show up for the tree-lighting event. Pawan Singh / The National

Visitors flock to the Expo City Dubai Christmas event. Pawan Singh / The National

Santa and Mrs Claus attend the event at Al Wasl Plaza. Pawan Singh / The National

Santa waves to the crowds. Pawan Singh / The National

The Expo City Dubai Christmas tree-lighting event in Al Wasl Plaza. Pawan Singh / The National

Giant gingerbread men interact with visitors during the event. Pawan Singh / The National

Visitors view the giant Christmas tree. Pawan Singh / The National

As usual, the UAE is committing to the festive season with fervour. All around the Emirates, trees are springing up and lights festoon shopping centres and streets.

Kuwait and Saudi Arabia

Visitors watch fireworks at the Winter Wonderland Kuwait during its grand opening. AFP

The British import Winter Wonderland is making its mark in Saudi Arabia for the third time, and has been brought to Kuwait for the first time.