UAE Coptic Christians gather for Christmas celebrations

ABU DHABI // Thousands of Egyptian Christians have been taking part in Christmas festivities across the country.

About 2,000 filled the capital’s Coptic church on Monday for services to mark Christmas Eve, while families and friends met at each other’s homes on Tuesday.

Ashaiya Ameen, a Copt who has lived here for more than three decades, said it was a special time as the UAE had become a second home.

“I have been fasting since November 26 and ended my fast on Monday. We fast for 30 days,” Mr Ameen said.

“I performed my prayers at the Coptic church in Abu Dhabi along with my family and friends. There has been a huge crowd of over 2,000.

“I teach my children about the historical background of our religion so they know about it. Marking Christmas in Abu Dhabi gives peace of mind. It is a second home for us and we have children who have grown up here.”

The services at St Anthony’s Orthodox Church in Abu Dhabi began at 6pm and lasted until after midnight and was attended by senior UAE officials including Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, and several Emirati businesspeople.

While most Christians celebrated Christmas on December 25, Copts celebrate on January 7. There are 350,000 Egyptians in the UAE, of whom about 30,000 are Copts.

Atif Nagib said that while he had to work on Tuesday, it was also a time for family and friends.

“I joined them in the afternoon,” Mr Nagib said. “By the evening, we go out to meet friends and families who live here.

“The UAE is the most peaceful and generous country in the world, where we all have freedom to pursue our religious activities. I have been about 30 years in this country and still I don’t want to go back.

“I visit churches three to four times a week.”

Saad Rizkalle, who lives in Dubai, said he was looking forward to spending time with his children and giving them presents.

“Today we are working,” said Mr Rizkalle. “There is no holiday but still we catch up with friends and relatives in the evening and dine together. I’ll greet my children and give them gifts.

“I attended the church yesterday but today it is going to parks and meeting families.”

anwar@thenational.ae