Thousands Gather for Christmas Services in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Emirati Christians Unite to Celebrate Festive Season and Anticipate the New Year
Christians across the Emirates congregated in churches and gathered outside chapels, coming together for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. These gatherings, attended by thousands, were not just celebrations of the festive season but also moments of reflection on the challenges faced throughout the year, particularly the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
President Sheikh Mohamed conveyed a message of peace and goodwill to the Christians celebrating Christmas in the UAE and worldwide. Via social media, he extended his blessings, expressing hopes that the occasion would bring forth peace and prosperity for them and their families.
Joining in the festive spirit, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, also extended warm Christmas wishes to those celebrating, sharing his holiday greetings on Monday.
In Dubai, around 1,500 individuals gathered at St Mary’s Catholic Church, participating in prayers and festivities. Families cherished the moment by capturing photos with the nativity scene, lighting candles, singing hymns, and engaging in collective prayers. Anticipating a significant turnout, the church, established in 1967 and the largest in the emirate, is prepared to host tens of thousands during the festive period.
Meanwhile, in Abu Dhabi, residents gathered at St Joseph’s Cathedral on Christmas Eve for a special outdoor midnight Mass. Amidst the enchanting setting, a choir dressed in red and black filled the night air with hymns. Worshippers took part in various rituals, lighting candles, admiring the nativity scenes, and reveling in the grandeur of the adorned Christmas tree. St Joseph’s Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in the Arabian Gulf, anticipates a substantial turnout with more than 23 Masses scheduled throughout the week in various languages.
Reflecting on the church’s rich history, the first midnight Mass at St Joseph’s took place on December 24, 1964, followed by its consecration the next year, attended by Sheikh Shakbut, the Ruler of Abu Dhabi at the time. Archive photos from the 1960s portray the church standing on the Corniche, surrounded by vast expanses of sand, a testament to its foundational years in the evolving landscape of the region.
