• Trafalgar Square is seen empty on November 5, 2020. Peter Summers/Getty Images
    Trafalgar Square is seen empty on November 5, 2020. Peter Summers/Getty Images
  • The Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, London, on December 3. Paul Brown/Shutterstock
    The Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, London, on December 3. Paul Brown/Shutterstock
  • The Vittoriano palace in Piazza Venezia in Rome in March. Matteo Nardone/Pacific Press/Shutterstock
    The Vittoriano palace in Piazza Venezia in Rome in March. Matteo Nardone/Pacific Press/Shutterstock
  • The Spelacchio Christmas tree in Piazza Venezia, Rome, on December 8. EPA
    The Spelacchio Christmas tree in Piazza Venezia, Rome, on December 8. EPA
  • Radio City Music Hall during the coronavirus pandemic on April 20, 2020. Cindy Ord/Getty Images/AFP
    Radio City Music Hall during the coronavirus pandemic on April 20, 2020. Cindy Ord/Getty Images/AFP
  • Christmas decorations are seen along 6th Avenue. Reuters
    Christmas decorations are seen along 6th Avenue. Reuters
  • People drive their cars on the Champs-Elysee avenue in Paris, on October 30. AFP
    People drive their cars on the Champs-Elysee avenue in Paris, on October 30. AFP
  • The Arc de Triomphe glows at the end of the Champs-Elysee with the Christmas lights lining Paris' famous avenue. Getty Images
    The Arc de Triomphe glows at the end of the Champs-Elysee with the Christmas lights lining Paris' famous avenue. Getty Images
  • The empty Marienplatz with the Townhall of Munich in the background on March 31. Getty Images
    The empty Marienplatz with the Townhall of Munich in the background on March 31. Getty Images
  • People walk past a Christmas tree as they do some shopping at the Marienplatz square in Munich on December 15. EPA
    People walk past a Christmas tree as they do some shopping at the Marienplatz square in Munich on December 15. EPA
  • A general view of a nearly empty Piazza Duomo in Milan, Italy on November 6. Getty Images
    A general view of a nearly empty Piazza Duomo in Milan, Italy on November 6. Getty Images
  • The Christmas tree is illuminated at the Piazza Duomo on December 10. EPA
    The Christmas tree is illuminated at the Piazza Duomo on December 10. EPA
  • St Stephen's Basilica in Budapest on September 27. Paul Lakatos/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
    St Stephen's Basilica in Budapest on September 27. Paul Lakatos/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
  • A Christmas tree stands on the square in front of St Stephen Basilica in Budapest on December 8. EPA
    A Christmas tree stands on the square in front of St Stephen Basilica in Budapest on December 8. EPA
  • An empty Old Town Square in Warsaw, Poland, on October 28. Tomasz Gzell/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
    An empty Old Town Square in Warsaw, Poland, on October 28. Tomasz Gzell/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
  • Christmas decorations and illuminations on December 13, 2020 in Warsaw, Poland. Tomasz Jastrzebowski / Shutterstock
    Christmas decorations and illuminations on December 13, 2020 in Warsaw, Poland. Tomasz Jastrzebowski / Shutterstock
  • People walk on an almost empty Kleber square in Strasbourg, eastern France, on October 24, 2020,. AFP
    People walk on an almost empty Kleber square in Strasbourg, eastern France, on October 24, 2020,. AFP
  • Pedestrians look at the giant Christmas tree on the main square in Strasbourg on November 27, 2020. AFP
    Pedestrians look at the giant Christmas tree on the main square in Strasbourg on November 27, 2020. AFP
  • The Landhausplatz landmark square in Innsbruck, Austria on March 15. AFP
    The Landhausplatz landmark square in Innsbruck, Austria on March 15. AFP
  • People pass by the Christmas illuminations in Innsbruck on December 15. Reuters
    People pass by the Christmas illuminations in Innsbruck on December 15. Reuters
  • Manila Cathedral in the Philippines on April 10. EPA
    Manila Cathedral in the Philippines on April 10. EPA
  • Manila Cathedral is lit up for mass on December 16. EPA
    Manila Cathedral is lit up for mass on December 16. EPA
  • The empty Syntagma square in Athens on October 23. AFP
    The empty Syntagma square in Athens on October 23. AFP
  • Syntagma Square decorated for Christmas in Athens on December 15. EPA
    Syntagma Square decorated for Christmas in Athens on December 15. EPA
  • The General view of The Churchill Arms public house in Kensington on June 12. Shutterstock
    The General view of The Churchill Arms public house in Kensington on June 12. Shutterstock
  • Christmas trees and fairy lights adorn the exterior of the Churchill Arms pub on December 15. Getty Images
    Christmas trees and fairy lights adorn the exterior of the Churchill Arms pub on December 15. Getty Images
  • A woman sits on the steps of Lobnoye mesto (the ancient place of execution) at Red square in downtown Moscow on September 17, 2020. AFP
    A woman sits on the steps of Lobnoye mesto (the ancient place of execution) at Red square in downtown Moscow on September 17, 2020. AFP
  • People walk near huge light sculptures of polar bears installed as part of decoration for the New Year and Christmas holidays in Moscow. EPA
    People walk near huge light sculptures of polar bears installed as part of decoration for the New Year and Christmas holidays in Moscow. EPA

World

Deck the hall: cities around the world transformed by festive lights - in pictures

Before and after: take a look at public buildings and squares around the world decorated with holiday lights after a hard year due to the coronavirus pandemic

The National

December 17, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Many nations will see a muted Christmas this year as restrictions on visiting friends and relatives abound.

But cities around the world are bringing the festive spirit nonetheless, with brilliant sparkling displays of lights.

Take a look at our gallery to see cities before and after their decorations were unveiled.

More on Christmas:

Inside the Dubai home with a snowmaker and candy cane backyard

Quranic verses and Christmas lights: my multifaith family's holidays

As a Papal visit approaches, Iraqi Christians still worry for their safety

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NO OTHER LAND

Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal

Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham

Rating: 3.5/5

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
World