January may be upon us and stretching out blue and gray. But, to generate some cheer, it is worth reflecting on the positive impact of Christmas in the Middle East. Despite the contradictory motifs of snow and cosy Victorian cheer, the Christian tradition was born in Bethlehem, Palestine. However it is also worth remembering that the region is dominated by Islam, a faith so often viewed as extraordinarily rigid in its dogma. How refreshing therefore is it to see Dubai awash with the festive spirit last month. Cynics may point to the obvious commercial opportunities that Christmas, arguably one of the biggest global brands around, offers both the retail and tourism sectors, but to cite that would be to ignore the real story, namely the willingness of many Islamic countries to embrace diversity through this most Christian of feasts. Much the same can be said for the burgeoning Islamic banking
