Saudi Arabia wishes you a Merry Christmas! Rulers of the conservative Muslim kingdom have not traditionally tolerated formal celebrations to mark the most important day of the Christian calendar.
But this year, residents of the capital Riyadh could enjoy seasonal displays in shopping malls and were able to buy Christmas trees, while one official Saudi newspaper published a special festive edition for the first time in its history.
“Saudis feel Xmas spirit like never before,” read the front page of the official English-language Arab News, advising readers on the best place to secure a turkey for Christmas dinner. “Better late than never,” editor Faisal Abbas wrote in a column.
This is not the first time that Christmas paraphernalia has been on sale in Saudi Arabia; restrictions on the celebration have been gradually easing for a few years. But 2022 marked a step change for a country where almost all Christians are expatriates. Shoppers in one Riyadh shopping centre were treated to festive lights, Christmas trees and a toy polar bear holding a stringless cello.
The newfound Christmas cheer comes as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s day-to-day ruler, pushes through a significant series of reforms. These include revamping the economy to make it less oil reliant and easing religious restrictions on life that, until a few years ago, meant women were unable to drive.
Offering good wishes to those celebrating non-Muslim religious holidays remains a controversial topic for Saudi Arabian hardliners. This year, however, Mohammed Al-Issa, a senior Muslim cleric, told television viewers that “there’s nothing in scripture that bans congratulating”.
The change of tone has been welcomed by some Saudis, including those who have studied abroad. One Saudi professional said that several of his friends enjoyed Christmas.
“Young couples, western educated Saudis with kids,” he said of those he knew who marked the occasion. “It’s usually for the kids, the presents and the celebratory atmosphere,” he added.
The conservatism of previous times was waning, he continued, while also requesting anonymity so he could speak candidly. “They were [in previous years] closing down flower shops over Valentine’s Day, now they’re allowing people to celebrate Christmas. It’s a step forward for liberalism.”
The move by the Arab News appeared to be aimed at showing that Saudi Arabia was becoming a more tolerant country. The kingdom is attempting to attract western talent and businesses in the face of increasing competition from the likes of the United Arab Emirates, which offers freedom of religion to most faiths as well as a more liberal lifestyle.
Prince Mohammed has won support for his reforms from many young Saudis, but the kingdom has been heavily criticised by western governments and advocacy groups for continued human rights abuses.
Saudi Arabia has put dozens of sentenced prisoners to death this year, while a PhD student and mother of two was jailed for almost 40 years for tweeting criticism.
Prince Mohammed’s supporters insist he has to take a firm stance if he wants his reforms to succeed, although some of his critics also want social reforms.
His drive has angered conservatives in the country that identifies as the custodian of Islam’s holiest sites. Although there are no accurate public opinion polls on the topic, a Halloween display in Riyadh in October prompted a flood of criticism on social media from conservatives in Saudi Arabia and across the region.
