Best Christmas and New Year’s Places in the Middle East
Christmas… could there be a more magical word? One of the most well-known holidays in the world, Christmas is avidly celebrated by people all around the world, including the Middle East.
Shortly after Christmas comes New Year’s Eve, another spectacular and fun holiday that’s celebrated in virtually every corner of the planet!
While many people enjoy spending these holidays at home with their loved ones, there are others who would love nothing more than to pack their bags and fly to another part of the world for the holiday season.
If that sounds like you, we’ve got you covered! To help you find your next vacation spot, we have curated a list of the best places to spend your Christmas and New Year’s in the glorious, magnificent Middle East!
The Best Place to Travel for Christmas and New Years
Ah…the mystical Middle East; a true jewel that offers so many exciting places to explore. In all honesty, there isn’t a better time to book a vacation to the Middle Eastern countries than during wintertime. This is because the summers in this part of the world tend to be scorching hot, but the winters are much cooler and far more comfortable. Additionally, there are a number of festivals that take place during the winter months, including Christmas and, of course, New Year’s Eve.
Bethlehem, Palestine
If you’re looking for a historical site to visit this Christmas, why not consider Bethlehem itself? Bethlehem, located in modern-day Palestine, is the biblical birthplace of Jesus himself, making it an excellent place to spend your Christmas.
There is a remarkably friendly Christian community located within the city, and they are known for their hospitality and welcoming arms. If you’d like to visit a place that is both historically important and is known for celebrating Christmas in full swing, you should definitely consider traveling to Bethlehem this holiday season.
Jerusalem, Palestine
Jerusalem is another remarkable city known for its relevance to Christian theology. During Christmastime, you can always count on Jerusalem to be decked from head-to-toe in blinding lights and other festive decorations.
This isn’t a bad place to spend your New Year’s Eve, either. Thanks to its abundance of young people, you’re bound to find people celebrating the start of the new season with joy!
Beirut, Lebanon
Did you know that Beirut hosts one of the largest Christian communities in the entire Middle East? Thanks to their significant Christian population, Christmas is an important and widely celebrated public holiday in the country. In fact, they even have an annual tradition of placing a massive, vibrant Christmas tree right in the middle of the town square-how exciting!
New Year’s in Beirut is always celebrated with a bang. From loud, overhead fireworks to late-night festivities, the city can offer you everything you’ve ever dreamed of and more.
Amman, Jordan
Jordan is a fantastic country in its own right, and Christmastime only serves to enhance its beauty. Amman hosts a lively Christian community that celebrates the holiday season with remarkable cheer each year. Save for the snow, nothing is lacking in Amman when it comes to enjoying Christmas.
Amman offers an exciting number of places to visit on New Year’s Eve, too. Jordan is very keen on celebrating the event. You can easily catch fireworks kicking off in every part of Amman as soon as the clock strikes twelve.
Dubai, UAE
Finally, we have Dubai, a city that compares to no other. Owing to its happy hustle and bustle, Dubai is one of the most desirable places to spend the holiday season. During Christmas time, you’re bound to see many exciting decorations, mini-events, and sales everywhere (talk about shopping till you drop!)
New Year’s Eve is by far the most anticipated holiday in Dubai. There isn’t one soul in the city who sleeps that night-it’s just so much more exciting to stay awake!
While Dubai doesn’t have natural snow, you can always visit the massive ice-skating rink in Dubai Mall if you’re missing the cold. Moreover, you’re bound to meet many other foreigners across the city who are celebrating the new year, just like you…you might even make a few friends on your trip.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the Middle East has many exciting places for you to travel to this holiday season. However, due to the pandemic, you will be required to follow strict SOPs in most places. That doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun, though. It just means that you should be careful and respect all safety procedures.
Regardless, though, don’t shy away from visiting any of these places this holiday season. The Middle East has so much to offer and is certainly worth considering for Christmastime and New Year’s Eve.
This article has been published in accordance with Socialnomics’ disclosure policy.
