Ramadan in Dubai  

Ramadan / Ramadhan in Dubai and the UAE

Ramadan (or Ramadhan / Ramazan / Ramzan / Ramdam / Ramadaan but not Ramadam) is the name of the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, it follows Shaban (or Sha'ban / Shaaban - the eighth month), and is followed by the month of Shawwal / Shawal / Shawaal. Ramadhan is an important period of religious significance for Muslims who observe the period with daytime fasting, worship and spiritual contemplation. Ramadan is regarded as the holiest month in the Islam calendar. Muslims believe that the Qur'an (or Koran) was revealed to the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) during the month of Ramadan on the night of Laylat al Qadr (or Laylat ul Qadr), one of the last ten nights of Ramadhan.

Ramadan dates 2005-2011

Last day of Ramadan for 2009 was announced as 19 September 2009 by the UAE moonsighting committee. Eid Al Fitr dates are Sunday 20 September 2009 until 22 September 2009. First day of Ramadan in the UAE for 2009 was announced as Saturday 22 August 2009 by the UAE moonsighting committee (20 August 2009).

For 2009 or 1430 AH (the Islamic calendar), the first day of fasting is expected to be 20 or 21 August 2009 in the UAE. Ramadan months from 2005 to 2010 are approximately (the first and last days of Ramadan are subject to confirmation by the moon sighting committee):

1. Estimated dates in italics until confirmed by moon sighting committee. For 2009 the UAE Ramadan Moon Sighting Committee convened on the evening of Thursday 20 August 2009 (29 Shaban 1430).
2. Iftar/Magreb times for Dubai. Add 4 minutes for Abu Dhabi, subtract 6 minutes for Fujairah. Iftar time changes by about 1 minute each day during Ramadhan.

Ramadan guidelines

"Ramadan Mubarak" and "Ramadan Kareem" are congratulatory greetings used when the first day of Ramadan is announced (kareem means generous and mubarak means blessings). Suhoor is the meal in the morning just before sunrise - it is usually a light meal. Iftar is the time of the evening meal just after sunset, traditionally a light snack of dates and water, although this might no be so obvious in Dubai. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims have the following obligations

• No eating, drinking, smoking or sex between sunrise (fajr) and sunset (maghrib, rather than magrib).
• Curb undesirable emotions such as anger, greed, envy, lust, and refrain from gossip.
• Keep thoughts and actions pure and use the time of fasting for spiritual contemplation.
• Be charitable and help those in need.
• Visit friends and family members.

Children (cut-off point is about 12 years old), the elderly, the insane, travellers, pregnant or nursing women, sick people, and those who are fighting in battle are not expected to fast. Instead they should feed one poor person each day during Ramadan, or, in the case of temporary conditions, make up the days by fasting at a later date. Women should not fast during menstruation but make up those days after Ramadan.

UAE and Dubai school opening dates Ramdan 2009

• Information moved to Ramdan UAE 2009. UAE government schools open after Ramadan, non-UAE curriculum private schools can choose to open earlier.

Ramadan events and activities in Dubai and the UAE

• Iftar is the evening time when, just after the sun sets, a cannon is fired to announce the breaking of the fast for the day. There's one in Safa Park in Jumeirah if you want to get close to the action.
• Iftar is not the time to have a large feast - traditionally it was a few dates and some water. Later in the evening is when it becomes more festive with larger meals enjoyed amongst friends and family.
• Mosques offer free Iftar meals to the less privileged members of society, whether they are Muslim or not. The meals might be sponsored by charities, companies, or individuals. The Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque has one of the largest Iftar gatherings in their carpark.
• Many hotels will have special Iftar tents where customers can have a simple or more complex meal - with a range of prices to match.
• Ramadan is seen as an opportunity to visit friends and family members, especially those with whom contact has faded.
• The rulers in various emirates pardon a number of prison inmates on the first day of Ramadan. Some are also released for the month of Ramadan to spend time with their family.
• Most businesses and government offices will close for the day sometime between 1400 and 1600. Iftar is around 1730-1830 depending on the time of year and when the sun sets. Some government departments will reopen in the evenings for 2-4 hours between 2000 and midnight.
• Business activities tend to slow down during Ramadan. Expect delays with any commercial or bureaucratic activities.
• Almost all restaurants and cafes will be closed during the day but many will extend their opening hours at night.
• There will be a few eating outlets open during the day for dine-in customers in larger hotels and shopping centers. Some fast food restaurants allow drive-through or take-outs.
• Supermarkets are normally open during the day and have extended hours at night - sometimes till midnight or even later.
• Shopping centers are open during the day and an extra hour or two at night. Closing times might be as late as midnight or 0100 (1am).

Rules and expectations specific to Dubai and the UAE

• Companies are required by law to reduce working time by 2 hours per day for all employees, not only Muslims and/or those who are fasting. If employees work longer hours, they should receive overtime pay. Workers can file a complaint at the UAE Ministry of Labour if a company is not following this rule, or not paying overtime for employees who do work longer hours.
• It is illegal to eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight hours (including in your car). Urban legend has it that you end up in jail for the remainder of the month of Ramadan if caught, however it is more likely that you'll get a lecture from the police and possibly a fine. The law says a fine up to 2000 / 2500 dhs or up to 1 or 2 month jail sentence as far as we know.
• For example, in September 2008, a Lebanese male resident and Russian female visitor were drinking juice in an EPPCO petrol station in Dubai before Iftar, and fined 1000 dhs each according to an article in the Gulf News. Apparently a witness saw them and reported them to the police, who shipped the couple off to court. It seems a surprisingly harsh outcome, unless there is more to the story than was reported.
• Sharjah is likely to have harsher penalties for the same offence.
• Khalil Ibrahim Mansouri, Director General of the department of criminal investigation at the Dubai Police, was reported on 20 August 2009 as saying "We call on people to help us by reporting anyone they see breaking the fast", referring to people eating, drinking, or smoking in public during the day during Ramadan. The report seemed to think that Mr Mansouri was keen to see residents and visitors chucked in jail - the headline was "People caught eating during Ramadan face jail" and pointed out that 24 people had been jailed in Dubai in the past 3 years for violating the Ramadan fasting period. The original source of the report is unclear.
• If you have hungry children, they are permitted to eat during the day but it would be sensible to be discreet about it. If you're desparate for food or drink for them, get a snack at a supermarket or service station, or possibly a restaurant/cafe even if they look closed (knock on the door - there might be someone in the back).
• It is respectful and polite to dress more conservatively during Ramadan - shoulders and legs should be covered, although it is apparent when walking around some of the shopping malls in Dubai that many people either don't know or don't bother.
• Bars in Dubai are usually still open but patrons might be asked what religion they are and refused entry if they are Muslim. Live and loud music is banned, so is dancing, so most nightclubs in Dubai will be closed or very quiet. Bars in Abu Dhabi might be closed. Bars in Ras Al Khaimah usually stay open. Bars in Sharjah don't exist.
• Any alcohol related offences will probably be treated much more severely than outside the month of Ramadan - it is quite possible an offender is stuck in prison until the end of Ramadan.
• Car stereos should be turned down - loud music, especially rock or similar music, is disrespectful at least, and if police hear it, they'll have something to say about it.
• Traffic jam times change - the morning is not much different but afternoons from 1300-1600 is quite busy, and again just before Iftar as many people are trying to get to a desired location for Iftar. Every year there are numerous accidents and requests from police to drive carefully at the time. For an hour or so just after Iftar, and from 1600 to an hour or so before Iftar, the roads are relatively traffic-free.

Ramadan timings Abu Dhabi, Dubai, UAE 2009

• See the Ramadan 2009 in Dubai page for details of opening hours, or add information to the Ramadan 2009 UAE forum topic. Thanks.
• Iftar and Suhoor meals and buffet deals, other hotel deals and events moved to that page also.

Restaurants, cafes, and eating outlets with daytime opening hours during Ramadan

• Supermarkets and service stations are open with food and drink available for purchase but don't consume in the place of purchase, in public, or in your car during the day.
• Most high end hotels will have room service and possibly one or two outlets open during the day (but without alcohol available).
• A couple of the larger shopping centers in Dubai (probably not in other emirates) might have one or two shops open for takeaways and/or dine-in. Food courts will be closed during the day (except in some of the Dubai free zones and Dubai International Airport).
• More details of restaurants open daytime in Dubai for Ramadan (for 2009), see also Ramadan 2008 in Dubai and Ramadan 2007 in Dubai.

Eid Al Fitr (or Eid ul Fitr / Id al Fitr ) holiday

• Eid Al Fitr is a holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, and the start of the next month in the Islamic calendar (Shawwal - the tenth month).
• Eid is usually a 3 day festival but length of holiday might vary from 2 days in the private sector to 5 or 6 days in the public sector.
• The Eid AlFitr start date is announced after a moon sighting committee decision at the end of Ramadan.
• Airports and border crossings are busy as many people take the opportunity to go overseas for a holiday and/or to visit family and friends.

Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA)

• The Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA) was established by Sheikh Mohammed in 1997 (1418 Hijri) as a competition to encourage memorization and understanding of the Holy Quran.
• The 11th session of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award was held in 2007 (1428 Hijri) and was won by Mohammad Fadil Rabi from Bangladesh, first prize was 250,000 dirhams.
• In 2008, Mohammad Bin Ahmad Zahid (13 years old) from Malaysia won the Quran recitation contest at the Dubai International Holy Quran Award.

Ramadan Glossary

• Adhan - call to prayer
• Allah - God
• Asr - mid-afternoon prayer
• Dhuhur / Dhuhr / Zuhr - midday prayer
• Eid Al Adha (Day of Sacrifice) - a 4 day festival that starts about 70 days after the end of Ramadan, commemorating Ibrahim / Abraham being ready to sacrifice his son.
• Eid Al Fitr - a festival at the end of Ramadan (the first three days of the month of Shawwal) to celebrate the completion of the month of fasting.
• Eid Mubarak - congratulations at the start of Eid
• Fajr (dawn) - the first prayer of the day, at dawn
• Fawanees - colorful lanterns used to decorate Iftar tents, the tradition originates in Cairo, Egypt, when residents walked out to the streets with lamps to welcome a new Fatimid ruler on the 5th day of Ramadan in the 9th century.
• Iftar - the evening meal after sunset to break the daily fast during Ramadan
• Imam - an Islamic religious leader
• Imsak - beginning the daily fast, means the act rather than the time
• Isha / Isha'a - evening prayer, the fifth and last prayer of the day
• Kabaa / Ka'ba / Kaaba / Kabah - the black granite building inside the Grand Mosque in Mecca, regarded as the holiest place in Islam.
• Laylat Al Qadr or Lailat Al Qadr (Night of Power) - one of the last nights of Ramadan, marking the anniversary of when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) by the Angel Gabriel.
• Maghreb / Maghrib - sunset prayer
• Manara - minaret
• Qibla - the direction of the Ka'ba in Mecca / Makkah
• Quran / Koran - the holy book for Islam, first revealed during Lailat Al Qadr. Muslims recite the entire Quran during Ramadan.
• Rak'ah / Raka / Rak'a / Rak'aa / Rakaa / - the cycle of standing, bowing, prostration and recitation that make up a unit of prayer. Each of the five daily prayer sessions consists of 2-4 Rakat / Raka'at (plural of Rak'ah).
• Ramadan Kareem - Ramadan greetings (Kareem equivalent to "generous"), more common than ...
• Ramadan Mubarak - Ramadan greetings (Mubarak equivalent to "blessings"). Less common in Egypt, something to do with a gentleman called Hosni.
• Salah / Salat - praying
• Salat Al Jama'a - communal prayers
• Sawm - abstinence or fasting
• Suhoor - the morning meal taken before the sun rises and the start of fasting during Ramadan
• Shurooq - early morning prayer
• Sunnah / Sunna - the way of the Prophet, meaning to follow his words and actions. Literally can be taken to mean custom, practice, or recommended.
• Taraweeh prayers - special evening prayers during Ramadan, after Isha, when the Quran is recited.
• Wudu - cleansing of the body when preparing for prayer
• Zakat - giving alms. It is especially important for Muslims to give Zakat during Ramadan.

Last update Saturday 19-Sep-2009

Related pages - Internal Links

• Dubai - FAQ home and index

• Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation
• Ramadan 2009 Dubai - discussion forum topic - add questions or updates about Ramadan information, events and places to visit
• Ramadan Dubai 2007 - previous information archived
• Ramadan Dubai 2008
• Ramadan Dubai 2009
• Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi (Sheikh Zayed Mosque) - has daily tours during the year including Ramadan

Related websites - External Links (open in new window)

• www.dicd.ae - Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities (DICD) - Dubai government site.
• www.iacad.gov.ae - UAE Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department, website in Arabic and English.
• www.islamonline.net - information about Islam and Ramadan
• www.moonsighting.com - information about the Islamic calendar.
• www.qaq.ae - website for Qanat Al Qasbah (QAQ) in Sharjah, moved to www.alqasba.ae for 2009?
• www.quran.gov.ae - Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA)
• www.ramadan.com.au - Ramadan Awareness Campaign (RAC) - information and education.
• www.rcuae.ae - Red Crescent UAE website. Variable availability, try searching the Google cache (enter "site:rcuae.ae" as a search term). Contact details are tel +971-2-6419000, fax +971-2-6420101, PO Box 3324, Abu Dhabi, email hilalrc@emirates.net.ae or hilalrc@eim.ae.
• Dubai directory - add your link free

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