Kodak Agfa presents in Photos : A Cairo Christmas 2025 “25 December Korba Edition”

It is time for one of our annual posts on Egyptian Chronicles: The Christmas in Cairo Post, Vol. 1.

As usual, this will be a photo post capturing Christmas decorations across Cairo as the city marks 25 December — the Western Christmas, observed by Western Christian denominations.

Christmas decorations on building No.6 in Baghdad Street, Korba

This year’s celebrations come as Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank attempt to observe Christmas in a semi-normal way, despite Israel’s continued violations of the ceasefire in Gaza and ongoing settler attacks in the West Bank — raising the question of whether a ceasefire truly exists at all.

Israeli police have already arrested a Palestinian dressed as Santa in Haifa, yet Palestinians continue to seek moments of normalcy after two years of genocide and amid an uncertain future.

Israeli police arrested a Palestinian man dressed as Santa Claus during a raid on a Christmas celebration in Haifa’s Wadi Nisnas neighbourhood. pic.twitter.com/WskP0GKePo

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) December 24, 2025

From the occupied Palestinian territories to Cairo, and in an attempt to shift the mood, I once again headed to Baghdad Street in Heliopolis to see this year’s Christmas decorations along the well-known avenue.

As you enter the street from the Al-Ittihadiya Presidential Palace direction, you are greeted by Christmas decorations on the shopfronts, including those above the upscale Richie Jewellery.

Richie Jewellery continued its Christmas decoration tradition in an elegant way

Shortly after, you are likely to find yourself stuck in traffic — a sure sign that, after just a few buildings, you have reached Baghdad Street and its main attraction: The famous building No.6 in Baghdad Street.

Christmas decorations on building No.6 in Baghdad Street, Korba

Now this is the story of Baghdad Street’s Christmas decorations if you missed that episode of Streets and Seasons about it.

It began in 2015 as an initiative by the Heliopolis Heritage Foundation, when local residents transformed a garbage bin area in the middle of Korba Square into a celebration space. They installed Cairo’s first mega Christmas tree during the holiday season, alongside a mega Ramadan lantern or fanous during Ramadan.

This tradition continued annually from 2015 to 2023, but for reasons related to traffic and security, it eventually stopped.

In December 2019, AXA OneHealth Medical Center, which rented one of the floors in Building No. 6 on Baghdad Street, began decorating its balconies for Christmas.

The Neo-Mamlak style balconies of building No.6 with Christmas decorations.

Later, the company that owns and operates the building, AlCayan Real Estate Investments — owner of Buildings 6, 8, and 10 — decided to extend the decorations across the buildings starting from Christmas 2021, in collaboration with the Heliopolis Heritage Foundation.

The Neo-Mamlak style balconies of building No.6 with Christmas decorations.

The tradition drew large crowds to the street, lined with restaurants and cafés, giving it a major boost during the winter season.

Traffic was paralyzed from time to time due to the invasion of selfie takers 
in the street.

This year’s decorations are the same as last year’s, yet they continue to draw large crowds — enough to create traffic jams, especially with people stopping for selfies.

Young people from the Selfie takers invade the island in the street to take a closer
look at building No.6

The majority of those present were young people, mostly girls, though families were also in attendance.

A father and a daughter photographed by a mother at 
Building no.6 and its Christmas tree.

The trend did not stop at Building No. 6. Other buildings, shops, and restaurants along the street have followed suit with their own Christmas decorations, including Arto Gallery, a specialised gallery for paintings and frames that is also known for its Christmas decorations.

Arto Gallery's shop window display in its Christmas mood.

The gallery turned into Christmas decorations and supplies these days, attracting even more customers with its Christmas decorations and merchandise from Christmas mags, Christmas trees and our favourite poinsettia.

Arto Gallery's shop window display in its Christmas mode.

Berge Jewellery also featured Christmas decorations on its shopfront.

Berge Jewellery's shop window display in Christmas mode 

Aside from the shops and restaurants that embraced the Christmas mood on Baghdad Street, the renowned Design Centre Cairo, known for modern furniture, stood out for its lack of Christmas decorations.

Design Centre was not in its Christmas mode 

Yet, in its own way, it managed to leave a distinctive visual statement that stood out by all measures.

Yup, the Design house left is a remark in the street

When I visited the street last Friday, all the restaurants and cafés on both sides of the street were packed. It was on Friday, 19 December.

The Neo-Mamlak style balconies of building No.6 with Christmas decorations.

I was unable to get into any of the coffee shops for a hot drink in the cold, as queues of young people stretched outside.

Coffee shop Nine Two Nine was fully packed 

Even the Mandarin Koueider Korba branch was full of people who ate Ice Cream in December, following Amr Diab’s steps in the 1990s.

Buying ice cream from Koudair in December 

I must say I respect how AlCayan Real Estate Investment continues to honour its founder, Ashraf Shoukry, who not only introduced Christmas decorations to his buildings but also helped sustain the local street economy during a time of economic crisis through a simple yet effective idea.

"In the memory of Ashraf Shehata", read what is written on the Christmas tree

At the base of that Christmas Tree on the building No.6, you can see the words “In the memory of Ashraf Shoukry”.

"In the memory of Ashraf Shehata", read what is written on the Christmas tree

I left Korba to head to Shubra, but this is for the Christmas 7 January edition.

Now, in the way out of Heliopolis, I saw more and more shop displays and buildings celebrating Christmas like Thomas for Watches.

Thomas Watches also celebrated Christmas 

I saw people sharing photos of the building online this Christmas because of its decorations, but it turned out that the building displays them all year long.

The building in Korba 

The restoration has not prevented the Basilica from installing its own Christmas tree, which is different from last year’s.

The Basilica is still under heavy and much-needed restoration. 

I was unable to take a proper photo of the decorated tree on the traffic island in front of the Basilica due to the heavy traffic.

The Basilica and its Christmas tree

Now here is a teaser inshallah for an upcoming new episode from Streets and Seasons inshallah showing the Christmas decorations from Cairo, from Korba to Shubra.

Till then, Merry Christmas for all those celebrating it on 25 December, especially in Egypt, Palestine, Sudan, Syria and Iraq.

Photos were taken by Sony a6500 with lens kit 18-55mm and iPhone. Videos taken by iPhone.