The winter holiday is going to be different this year, perhaps very different. Whereas, in years gone by hundreds of thousands of ex-pats would be travelling to spend the festive season with friends and family in places as diverse as Cape Town, London, Boston, Sydney, Paris and Rome, 2020 will find them staying at home in the UAE.
There’s no need to get your tinsel in a tangle though! Hotels, restaurants, resorts and event organisers throughout the country are determined to save the day, creating special celebrations that allow people to come together is a fun and safe environment.
There’s no doubt that this year’s festive season won’t be what we’re used to, with social distancing and numerous questions marks in the weeks ahead dictating that smaller family gatherings will most likely have to take centre stage. But those family gatherings do not necessarily have to be at home. And when it comes to Santa, don’t worry; he has immunity from Covid-19.
We don’t know precisely how the festive season will pan out. What we do know is that if you are in the UAE, there will be lots to do and plenty of celebrations … and you can definitely expect a face mask and hand sanitiser under the tree.