Ramadan Dubai

	Ramadan in Dubai

Saturday 04 July 2009 (UAE)	Dubai (index) \| Dubai forum \| Print

Ramadan / Ramadhan in Dubai and the UAE

Ramadan (or Ramadhan 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.

For 2009 or 1430 AH (the Islamic calendar), the first day of fasting is expected to be 20 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):

1426 AH (2005) Ramadan from 04 October 2005 to 02 November 2005
1427 AH (2006) Ramadan from 23 September 2006 to 22 October 2006
1428 AH (2007) Ramadan from 12 September 2007 to 11 October 2007
1429 AH (2008) Ramadan from 01 September 2008 to 30 September 2008
- Maghrib / Iftar times in Dubai from 18:39 on 01 Sep 2008 to 18:09 on 30 Sep 2008, 4 min later in Abu Dhabi, 6 min earlier in Fujairah
1430 AH (2009) Ramadan from 20 August 2009 to 18 September 2009 (subject to confirmation)
1431 AH (2010) Ramadan from 09 August 2010 to 07 September 2010

"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.

Ramadan events and activities in Dubai

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.
Many hotels will have special Iftar tents where customers can have a simple or more complex meal - with a range of prices to match.
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.
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 between 1400 and 1600. Iftar is around 1730-1830 depending on the time of year and when the sun sets.
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.

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. 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 (the law says a fine up to 2000 dhs or a one-month jail sentence as far as we know), however it is more likely that you'll get a lecture from the police and possibly a fine.
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.
It is respectful and polite to dress more conservatively during Ramadan - shoulders and legs should be covered.
Bars in Dubai are usually still open but patrons will be asked what religion they are and refused entry if they are Muslim. Live and loud music is banned, so is dancing. Bars in Abu Dhabi might be closed. Bars in Ras Al Khaimah 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 2008 in the UAE

See one of these Dubai websites - they will usually have information on the more interesting activities and better Iftar tents to go to. See also the Ramadan 2007 notes.
Tours of the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi at 10am on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays.
Shopping centers with cafes or restaurants open during the day:
- Ibn Battuta Mall - Charlie's Subs - takeaways only (tel +971-4-3685454).
- Dubai Festival City - Casper & Gambini (downstairs, entrance from Canal Walk), possibly also some top floor food court restaurants for takeaways only (not confirmed).
- Mall of the Emirates - Karam / Karim Beirut Restaurant (tel +971-4-3412202), Salomontini (looks over Ski Dubai, tel +971-4-3475844), St Maxim's (tel +971-4-3413415), maybe Burger King in the food court for takeaways and/or children.
- Abu Dhabi Marina Mall - none
- Al Raha Shopping Mall - none

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 holiday. The actual date it starts is announced after a moon sighting committee decision.
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.
Eid Al Fitr in 2008 is expected to start on 30 September or 01 October 2008. The UAE private sector will have a 2 day holiday, the public sector will have a 6 day holiday from 29 September to 04 October 2008 (announced 22 Sep 2008) - ministries and federal agencies will be closed, and reopen on 05 October 2008.

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.

Ramadan 2007 Iftar tents & marquees - some suggestions

Mosques in Dubai will have charity Iftar tents with water, dates, salads, rice, meat, and yogurt for the many laborers and workers in Dubai breaking their daily fast, some set up by the UAE Red Crescent Society. At the other end of the scale, residents can spend several hundred dhs on a lavish buffet spread at one of the many hotels in Dubai. For something less extravagent, head to one of the many Arabic restaurants in Dubai.

Diwan Al-Khayal at Jumeirah Beach Hotel (JBH) - live band with Damascene music
Emaar Properties Ramdan Iftar Tent on Burj Dubai Boulevard, close to Old Town Island in Downtown Burj Dubai (and get a view of the tallest building in the world). Set menus cost between Dh 120 and Dh 165 per person, live music includes Oud player. Open 2100-0300 daily. Impressive, some say a bit snobby, but then that's Downtown Burj Dubai for you.
Emirates Bank (EBI) - their new branch on Jumeirah Beach Road (opposite the Jumeirah Beach Hotel) has a Ramadan Fair and Zyara Tent from 8pm to midnight, and EBI customers get a 50% discount.

Activities in Dubai during Ramadan 2007

Deira City Centre is hosting a Fruit of the Date Palm exhibition, in association with the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU), which shows the life and culture of Emiratis (UAE Nationals) focusing on the date palm. Open from 1000-0100 daily (perhaps not on Friday mornings though).
The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU) is offering tours of the Dubai Grand Mosque (non-Muslims can take part - dress appropriately) and Bastakiya in the evenings, along with an Iftar meal. Book at the Ramadan Majlis in Ibn Battuta Mall (nowhere near Bastakiya), or tel mobile +971-50-5858463 or +971-50-5858439. Tours only during Ramadan on Sat, Mon, Thu.
Ramadaniat Al Qasba 2007, at Qanat Al Qasba, Sharjah, 2030-0000 (midnight).
Cultural Majlis, Ibn Battuta Mall, China section, 2000-2300.

Restaurants and cafes open during the day in Ramadan 2007

Saint / St Maxim / Maxim's (tel +971-4-3413415) cafe/restaurant in Mall of the Emirates is open for breakfast, lunch and coffee. On the first floor.
Limetree / Lime Tree cafe open from 0730-1800 (tel +971-4- 3498498) on Jumeirah Beach Road, but their Ibn Battuta Mall branch is closed for the month of Ramadan.
Many drive-through fast food restaurants eg Macdonald's, KFC, Burger King are open (for drive-thru), and some of the non-drive-thru ones are open for takeaways.
The larger hotels will usually have a restaurant or cafe open during the day, and also room service.
Dubai Media City food court outlets are open during the day during Ramadan. They also have an enclosed smoking tent outside.

Ramadan in Dubai