The best Christmas lights in the Middle East

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

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

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

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.

FA Cup fifth round draw

Sheffield Wednesday v Manchester City
Reading/Cardiff City v Sheffield United
Chelsea v Shrewsbury Town/Liverpool
West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United/Oxford United
Leicester City v Coventry City/Birmingham City
Northampton Town/Derby County v Manchester United
Southampton/Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City
Portsmouth v Arsenal

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Try out the test yourself

Q1 Suppose you had $100 in a savings account and the interest rate was 2 per cent per year. After five years, how much do you think you would have in the account if you left the money to grow?
a) More than $102
b) Exactly $102
c) Less than $102
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer

Q2 Imagine that the interest rate on your savings account was 1 per cent per year and inflation was 2 per cent per year. After one year, how much would you be able to buy with the money in this account?
a) More than today
b) Exactly the same as today
c) Less than today
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer

Q4 Do you think that the following statement is true or false? “Buying a single company stock usually provides a safer return than a stock mutual fund.”
a) True
b) False
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer

The “Big Three” financial literacy questions were created by Professors Annamaria Lusardi of the George Washington School of Business and Olivia Mitchell, of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Answers: Q1 More than $102 (compound interest). Q2 Less than today (inflation). Q3 False (diversification).

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed

Rating: 1/5

Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

De De Pyaar De

Produced: Luv Films, YRF Films
Directed: Akiv Ali
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Rakul Preet Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jaaved Jaffrey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

World record transfers

1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m

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UAE currency

Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

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