In one of Dubai's latest and biggest malls, a man in traditional garb snaps a photograph of his son in front of a huge silver and blue Christmas tree surrounded by skating mechanical penguins.
"Of course we are Muslims and have our own holidays, but this holiday [Christmas] is another opportunity for kids to have fun," said the man, who did not wish to be identified.
In contrast to neighboring Saudi Arabia, where Christmas is banned, Dubai's holiday trappings and spirit are much appreciated by the significant expatriate community, which makes up the majority of the emirate's estimated 1.2 million population.
"I have been living in Dubai for the past two years and when I am in restaurants and malls, I feel like I am in Liverpool. And now there is snow and skiing, what more can I ask for?" said Patrick Shweder, 16, a native of the northern English city.
Dubai, which has fashioned itself into an important tourist attraction in recent years, inaugurated a man-made $272-million (€230-million) ski resort in early December, complete with the world's first indoor black-run, glacial winds and even icicles.
Outside the resort, Shweder posed for a photograph in front of a giant statute of Santa Claus.
At a furniture store inside the mall, business is brisk for artificial Christmas trees and decorations, despite the high price tags.
A medium-height tree with ornaments and lights costs at least $300, said Samar Safi, a native of Lebanon, who has been living in Dubai for 25 years.
At another Dubai extravaganza called Madinat Jumeriah, a complex of restaurants and shops in a Venice-meets-Arabia setting, some 100 children from the local British school sing traditional Christmas carols to an enthusiastic crowd.
"When we arrived in Dubai what we missed the most was the festive mood this time of the year, but we noticed things were changing each year," said Cathy Hech from Britain.
"Now we are enjoying Christmas carols in the open air. We are very happy."
Her friend Alice Nolan has even formed a four-member group of carolers that has performed at more than a dozen private Christmas parties in Dubai so far this year.
In Muslim Dubai, all Christmas symbols are secular. There are no crosses, angels or nativity scenes anywhere in sight, except inside some the city's churches.
But the outward expression of Christmas does not seem to please some conservatives among the local population.
"We see all these Christmas decorations that have nothing to do with our culture and history. Maybe one day we will become like the Aborigines in Australia, strangers in our own land," said an Emirati man in a call to a local radio station.
© 2005 Agence France-Presse
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