Expats celebrate Christmas: Big change in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh: Those wishing to celebrate Christmas in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia no longer have to buy decorations for this occasion in a secret way, as they are available to everyone and openly displayed in stores.
Celebrating Christmas is no longer taboo in the formerly conservative Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  Nowadays, Christmas trees and decorative lights of various colours can be found easily in many of the Kingdom’s markets and malls, in a scene that was difficult even to imagine years ago in the Kingdom.
It was almost impossible to sell these goods openly in Saudi Arabia about three years ago, but the Kingdom has finally witnessed an end.
Christmas decoration items in a store in Saudi Arabia. Photo: Imperialcharm/Instagram Christmas decoration items in a store in Saudi Arabia. Photo: Imperialcharm/Instagram For decades, expats have been buying Christmas items almost in secret, while Christians from the Philippines, Lebanon and other countries have been celebrating Christmas behind closed doors or in areas where foreigners reside.
These sales have begun to appear gradually in the Kingdom in recent years, in a gesture to ease social restrictions after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged to lead a “moderate and liberated” Kingdom from extremist ideas.