The Holy Month of Ramadan holds great significance in the Muslim Culture. It is one month of exceptional blessings and the Muslims hold it in great regard passionately following with prayers and fasting. This time period affects both the lives of local residents as well as the tourists and expats on account of changes of the opening hours of shopping malls as well as entertainment venues; timings for the government agencies are reduced to accommodate the fasting schedules while certain restrictions are introduced for the general public in regards to eating and drinking in public places. Moreover, we will take a look at the special aspects of this Holy Month, how it affects the UAE as a whole and the rules that are to be observed during the Month of Ramadan.
About The Holy Month of Ramadan
Muslims follow the lunar calendar and Ramadan is the 9th month of it during which it is obligatory for the Muslims to fast. While fasting, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and intimacy. At the time of sunset, the day’s fast ends and the next one starts again at dawn.
Suhoor is the pre-dawn meal that one takes to get through the day and to keep oneself in good health while fasting. This meal is followed by Al-Fajr, which is the morning prayer.
Iftar is the first and main meal after sunset which completes a Muslim’s day’s fast. The tradition for the breaking of your fast is to have a few dates and water in the spirit of simplicity. After the iftar, the Muslims perform the prayer of Al-Maghrib, which is the evening prayer and 4th out of the 5.
The last 10 days of Ramadan hold a special significance and thus the Muslims pray most earnestly. The Muslims hold the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as their role model and often retire to the mosque for the entirety of the last 10 days of Ramadan. The duration of Ramadan is between 29 & 30 days in accordance with the Islamic lunar calendar which does not coincide with the Gregorian calendar. Every year, the day Ramadan begins shifts by 11 days and the exact dates are always confirmed by the relevant moon sighting committee.
The Way in which Ramadan is celebrated in The UAE
The Month of Ramadan in 2023 in the UAE will be starting after the sunrise on the 23rd of March, according to Ibrahim-Al-Jarwan, The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Astronomy Society, a member of the Arab Union of Astronomy and Space Sciences (AUASS). The month of fasting is expected to conclude on the 20th of April, however, the exact date for the ending will still be announced by the moon sighting committee as their ruling is final in this regard.
According to the Islamic History, during this time period, The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) started receiving revelations and began to comprehend Islam. The tourists and expats that are residents of the UAE are responsible for ensuring that the believers are able to fast without any restrictions. The foreigners do not need to adhere to the requirements and limitations of the Holy month of Ramadan but they are expected to show respect and understand the local customs and traditions.
The article 331, paragraph A of the UAE Criminal Code explicitly states that the consumption of any kind, which includes food, drinks, smoking or other activity that may violate a person’s fast of Ramadan are punishable by a fine of up to AED 2,000 (USD 545) and even an arrest or jail time of up to 30 days. Private residential balconies and cars in the parking lots are also considered to be public spaces and considered as such when it comes to these restrictions. The chewing of gum and listening to loud music in a public setting is also not considered acceptable and may be punishable by law.
The basic requirements and restrictions for fasting in the Month of Ramadan do not apply to under age children. Children under the age of 6 are considered exempt and ages 7-12 can usually fast for limited periods of time. In the UAE, children who have reached the age of 12 are expected and required to comply with the necessary rules and regulations of the Month of Ramadan on an equal basis with the adults.
The following groups and individuals are exempt from fasting in Ramadan:
Pregnant and lactating women;
Menstruating women;
Diabetics;
People who have a serious illness;
Elderly people;
Travelers
In addition to all the individuals listed above, expats and tourists visiting the country also have to abide by and meet the standards of appearance. All adults are expected to be dressed neatly and in a conservative manner with their arms and legs fully covered by their attire. Going out in the public in swimsuits, tight or low-cut clothing is strictly prohibited. Adults are expected to follow a level of decorum and restraint while out in public and avoid all kinds of public displays of affection like kissing, hugging and shaking hands. Moreover, the Month of Ramadan is a time of peace and repentance so harsh words and gestures are frowned upon so it’s better to avoid them and practice patience. Every day’s fast is completed at the time of the evening prayer, Al-Maghrib, when the Muslims have Iftar and pray afterwards. Since the 1960s, the firing of cannons has been used to notify the Muslims regarding the time of Iftar and for exactly this purpose, five cannons have been installed in varying locations in Dubai to cover most of the vicinities. They are notably located in the Burj Khalifa, Atlantis - The Palm and Al-Habbai Mosque, among a few other locations. In the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, cannon firing is also used to call the Muslims for the evening prayer with the cannons installed at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
How Urban Infrastructure Works + Rules To Abide By
In accordance with the Federal Laws, namely Law No. 8 of the 1980 Regulations of Labor Relations, working hours of any and all representatives and employees of the private sector are to be reduced by two hours during the Month of Ramadan. All Government Departments and Agencies also get shorter work hours during this time period.
Schools and educational institutions also get amended timetables with the day starting later and ending earlier. The basic rule being, the school day should end no later than 18:00. The exact opening hours are at the discretion of the schools to decide and are set by each school on an individual basis. Working hours for kindergartens and playrooms are also reduced in accordance with these regulations.
The store timings vary considerably in the Month of Ramadan as they are usually open from 10:00 - 13:00 and then from 18:30 - to 00:00. These timing restrictions do not apply to the large shopping malls and supermarkets, many of whom are open 24/7. Contrary to popular opinion, over the past two years, the rules of Dubai for Ramadan have considerably been relaxed for foreigners and tourists while some catering establishments do remain open throughout the day to serve and receive tourists. While two years ago, restaurant and cafe owners used to have to obtain the appropriate licenses and screen the windows, these restrictions have been abolished as of late. According to a circular issued on the 11th of April of 2021 by the Dubai Economic Development Department, restaurants and eateries in the Emirate of Dubai no longer require screening their dining areas.
On the 6th of April of 2021, similar changes to the Hospitality Industry were made in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi as their Department of Culture and Tourism authorized the tourism and hospitality establishments to cater and serve foreigners and tourists during the Month of Ramadan without the requirement of installing screens and partitions in their eateries. None of the rules and restrictions listed above apply to closed resorts and they continue their daily proceedings as usual.
Around the time of Iftar, the number of people wishing to visit cafes and eateries increases significantly which is why the best course of action is to book the places in advance to avoid long lines and wait times. The time after Al-Maghrib prayer is of intense traffic buildup which can cause congestion and roadblocks.
Around the time of Iftar, most of the restaurants and eateries organize grand buffets and dining tents; such as, in Dubai, amazing buffets are arranged in the Atlantis, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Al-Bustan Rotana, Anatara Dubai, The Palm Resort & Spa, The Palm, Crowne Plaza, Dubai Festival City and the Four Points by Sheraton every year.
The exact time for Iftar varies considerably depending on the region and even the city as it is linked to the sunset. The Iftar buffets are open for all, be it a local Muslim or a non-Muslim tourist. It is essential to make sure that the fasting Muslims open their fasts in a timely manner and are able to have a proper evening meal.
The sale and purchase of alcohol during the Month of Ramadan is restricted in the city bars till after Iftar time, although if one is present in a closed resort, alcohol might be available for purchase during the day as well.
One must be prepared for the fact that mosques that are generally open to foreigners and tourists throughout the rest of the year may be closed off for visits during the Month of Ramadan due to ongoing projects or programs. Apart from that, the opening hours of beaches and parks remain unaffected and unchanged. As far as the tourist attractions are concerned, they often switch to working half-days with an extended break during the middle of the day.
The Holy Month of Ramadan concludes with a celebration known as the Eid-ul-Fitr, which is a public holiday in the UAE that lasts three days and is also celebrated in all the other Muslim countries throughout the world. This event comprises of the Muslims preparing feasts, visiting relatives and a huge exchange of gifts among family and friends. An integral part of this Muslim celebration is charity and helping those less fortunate; this is usually a major factor in most of the widely celebrated Islamic events. During the Eid-ul-Fitr, all the Government Departments and Agencies are also closed for holidays ranging anywhere from three to seven days.
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