Home isn’t always a place—it’s a feeling. And during Christmas, that feeling tends to knock a little louder on the heart. For many of us living in the UAE, the season arrives without snow, familiar streets, or the comfort of long-held traditions just outside our door. Yet somehow, the magic still finds a way in.
Across kitchens, living rooms, and carefully decorated corners, KE members are recreating Christmas in deeply personal ways. From family recipes passed down through generations to ornaments carried across borders, these small rituals bridge the distance between where we are and where our hearts feel most at home. It’s about preserving tradition while embracing a new setting—turning the UAE into a festive backdrop for cherished memories.
We asked our KE members a simple but powerful question: How do you recreate the feeling of home during Christmas while living in the UAE? Their answers remind us that home is built through connection, creativity, and the people we share the season with. Here’s how they keep the spirit of Christmas alive—one tradition, one memory, and one heartfelt moment at a time.
Robert Michael D’Sa, Lead Member of the KE Dubai Chapter, shared that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year—filled with sweets, traditions, comforting food, and meaningful togetherness. It’s a season where memories are created in small moments and familiar rituals bring a sense of home, no matter where we are. “We recreate this magic by making sweets at home,” he said, “filling the kitchen with warmth, laughter, and the comforting aromas of the season.”
Traditions are carefully kept as we set up the Christmas tree and decorate the house a full month in advance, letting the festive spirit grow day by day. Every ornament has a story, every light adds a little more joy, and slowly the house transforms into a place of celebration. The food is prepared just as it is back home—rich in flavor, tradition, and love—bringing comfort to every meal we share.
Weekends are filled with gatherings and parties, each one adding to the excitement and cheer of the season. Yet, Christmas Day itself remains special and intimate. It is reserved for the core family, spent opening gifts, sharing laughter, and enjoying moments that strengthen bonds and linger in the heart long after the holidays end.
Dezma Rovina D’Souza, Managing Partner at S&K HR Consulting and one of the active members, said:
“Recreating the feeling of home during Christmas while living in the UAE has taught me something important: home is not a place. It is where the heart feels anchored. No matter where I am physically, my heart is always with my family.”
For most of my life, I had the privilege of spending Christmas with my parents in Abu Dhabi. Our home was full of warmth, intention, and togetherness. When my parents retired and moved back to India five years ago, Christmas began to feel different. Quieter in some ways. Nostalgic in others. But what they gave us went far beyond a location. They showed us how to celebrate with meaning. Thoughtful presents. A table that always made room for extended family. A focus on presence, not perfection.
Today, with my sister by my side in the UAE, we continue that spirit. We spend Christmas together, often with cousins, recreating the same sense of belonging we grew up with. When possible, we make a conscious effort to create loving, memorable experiences for the next generation. Small traditions. Shared meals. Time together that feels unhurried.
Christmas, for me, is a reminder that home travels with you when love does.
Avil Rohan Pinto, another active member of the KE Dubai Chapter and Co-Founder & Director of Itecksys LLC, shared about his experience:
“Dubai truly feels like a home away from home. If you live here, you’d probably agree—Christmas in the UAE never feels like something we’re missing out on. From sparkling lights and beautifully decorated Christmas trees to carols echoing through malls, stores, and neighborhoods, the festive spirit is everywhere. In many ways, it feels even more vibrant than back home. What makes it truly special is the unity in diversity—people from different cultures coming together to celebrate the season.”
Our Christmas preparations began early December—unboxing the tree, decorating the house, and placing the star in our front yard, which instantly felt like back home. My wife and mother-in-law spent days preparing delicious kuswar, which we shared with friends and family across Dubai.
As a family, we were excited to be part of the KEL Christmas bash carol singing. The practice sessions themselves became moments of bonding and joy. We also hosted a Christmas party for our children and their friends, involving them in everything—from planning and games to food and fun.
These moments created beautiful memories and gently took me down memory lane. Christmas may be celebrated away from where we grew up, but with family, tradition, and community, Dubai feels like home.
In conclusion, these stories remind us that Christmas is less about geography and more about intention. It lives in shared meals, familiar songs, laughter echoing through living rooms, and traditions lovingly carried across borders. For KE members in the UAE, home isn’t left behind—it’s recreated, reimagined, and renewed each year through connection and community.
Because when love leads the way, home is never far. And during Christmas, it shows up exactly where it’s needed most.