I lived and worked in Muscat, Oman back in the 80's and surprised and pleased that Christmas was celebrated there including imported real spruce trees. We even exchanged Christmas cards and gifts. Being a hot desert country there were few trees that could put up with the heat and drought, apart from the date palms there were acacia trees which the roaming goats liked.
You must have been posh. We never saw a pine needle and used our ear wax to make candles. A thimble. ...you had it easy!