Members of the UAE's Coptic Armenian and other Orthodox Christian communities are preparing to celebrate Christmas on January 6 and 7.

While most Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar some Eastern Orthodox churches use the older Julian calendar in which December 25 corresponds to the Gregorian January 7. The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the day on January 6.

Among the most prominent Orthodox Christian communities in the UAE is the Coptic Church which is the largest Christian denomination in the Middle East and is considered one of the oldest churches in existence having been established in Egypt less than 50 years after the birth of Jesus.

"We have seven churches in the UAE. We have two churches in Dubai one in Abu Dhabi one in Al Ain one in Sharjah one in Ras Al Khaimah and one in Fujairah" Egyptian Copt and Dubai resident Emad Azmy Isaac told Khaleej Times. "At a minimum we may reach up to 12000 people or more here.

"We have a Coptic Calendar and as per that calendar we celebrate Christmas on January 7. We celebrate Christmas with Russians Armenians Ethiopians and all the Orthodox all over the world. In our case will celebrate Christmas Mass on Christmas Eve on the 6th. Usually on a celebration like New Year or Christmas Eve many more people will come (who) don't come every week to church."

Reverend Father Mesrob Sarkissian Armenian Catholicos Vicar for UAE and Qatar said he expected a majority of the approximately 10000-strong Armenian community in the UAE will flock to the Armenian Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church in Sharjah and Holy Martyr's Church in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

"We're celebrating Christmas Mass in Sharjah in the morning and in Abu Dhabi ... at 6pm" he said. "I expect all the Armenians to come because they all celebrate on the 6th. If they are students or are working those hours they will keep the day free. For sure they will come to the church."

Sticking to tradition

"The main difference in the Armenian church is the date" he said. "All Christians used to celebrate in January but some churches decided to make Christmas on the 25th (of December) to make sure people didn't return to old Gods as I think that date used to be used for a sun God. But the Armenian Church kept the old tradition and is still keeping it."

Both men said that Orthodox Christmas is a time in which they reflect on the religious freedoms and government support they enjoy in the UAE. "The UAE has very generous and great people."

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai gave them the land for their church in Jebel Ali; as did His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces in Abu Dhabi; and His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah in Sharjah he said.

"They've all given land and helped a lot in construction as well. We have no problems at all here ... they are really very helpful."

Similarly Reverend Father Mesrob noted that the Armenian community is deeply appreciative of their freedoms in the UAE and feels welcome here. "It's not just the Armenian church but all churches here. We absolutely have freedom here" he said. "We are very thankful for this. For the Armenians it's a big thing since many of us began to live here in the early 60s.

"In my three years of experience in the area I've seen that we have all the freedom and protection from the government to bring together believers and make our church services."

Other notable Orthodox Christmas services are planned at the St. Philip the Apostle Russian Orthodox Church in Sharjah and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Debreselam Medhanealem Church in Abu Dhabi.

Bernd Debusmann Jr. Originally from Mexico City I've been in Dubai since January 2015. Before arriving in in the UAE I worked as a general news reporter in TV and print in Mexico City NYC and Washington DC. I'm interested in defence issues politics technology aviation and history. In my spare time i enjoy traveling and football - I'm a keen fan of Chelsea FC. I developed an interest in the Middle East traveling through Jordan and the West Bank. I have a BA in Political Science from Dickinson College in the USA and an MA in International Journalism from City University London.