Arab News

Friday . September 11, 2026

LATEST NEWSMiddle East Lebanese army reinforces presence in Nabatiyeh amid fears of Israeli incursion

Christmas in the Middle East

Christmas in the Middle East

Acting Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa in the West Bank. (Reuters)

Jordanians attend a mass that was held at the Catholic Latin Church in the city of Fuheis near Amman, Jordan, December 23, 2018. Picture taken December 23, 2018. (Reuters)

A visitor lights a candle inside the Church of the Nativity on Christmas eve, in Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank December 24, 2018. (Reuters)

Jordanians attend a mass that was held at the Catholic Latin Church in the city of Fuheis near Amman. (Reuters)

A Jordanian girl receives a gift from a Jordanian group during Christmas celebrations in the city of Fuheis near Amman, Jordan, December 23, 2018. Picture taken December 23, 2018. (Reuters)

A Christmas tree is placed inside a Wafi mall in Dubai, United Arab Emirates December 11, 2018. (Reuters)

People take photos near the Christmas tree, displayed in the Mall of Emirates in Dubai. (AFP)

Christian pilgrims pray inside the Grotto, believed to be the exact spot where Jesus Christ was born, at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 24, 2018, on the eve of the Christmas celebration. (AFP)

Palestinian bagpipers perform on Manger square in front of the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 24, 2018. (AFP)

Acting Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa waves as he arrives to attend Christmas celebrations, at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. (Reuters)

Two Russian expats look to buy a real Christmas tree on Hudaiba road in Dubai. (AFP)

Acting Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa attends a mass at the Church of the Nativity on Christmas eve, in Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. (Reuters)

Pilgrims from around the world flocked to Bethlehem for what was believed to be the biblical West Bank city’s largest Christmas celebrations in years. (AN Photo/Hazem Belousha)

Pilgrims from around the world flocked to Bethlehem for what was believed to be the biblical West Bank city’s largest Christmas celebrations in years. (AN Photo/Hazem Belousha)

Pilgrims from around the world flocked to Bethlehem for what was believed to be the biblical West Bank city’s largest Christmas celebrations in years. (AN Photo/Hazem Belousha)

Updated 25 December 2018 01:20

December 24, 2018 17:15

People across the Middle East, especially in Bethlehem, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Lebanon are celebrating the Christian holiday of Christmas.