If you’re about to spend your first Ramadan in Dubai, here below some useful information!
Practical information
Business Hours : Private sector companies usually work 2h less than usual and working hours/traffic hours change to 09.00 to 15.30/16.00
Public and Government Offices: From 09.00 to 14.30 from Monday to Thursday and 09.00 to noon on Fridays. It’s highly recommended to double check before visiting.
Restaurants and Cafes: most are opened during the day some open dine-in places in malls may remain closed till sunset.
Malls and Shopping: same opening hours in the morning but will remain open till 1.00 or even 3.00 during week-ends.
Schools: KHDA will issue directive on operational hours and will give schools flexibility to decide exact start and end time within those guidelines. Usually 09.00 to 14.00. Spring break will coincide this year with Ramadan and will include Eid break so schools will enjoy a 3 weeks long break from March 25th till April 15th.
For more information about schools directives : https://web.khda.gov.ae/en/
Ramadan is a sacred month in the Islamic culture. It’s the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. The start of Ramadan changes each year because the lunar Islamic calendar follows the phase of the moon. It begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon. This year Ramadan will likely begin on March 11th and will end with Eid Al Fitr celebrations. The first time it will fall in winter since 2000.
Ramadan is part of the Five Pillars of Islam: Sawn (fasting), Shahadah (declaration of Faith), Zakat (giving to charity), Salah (prayers), Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).
It is a month of spiritual reflection, a moment of generosity, respect, charity, and connection to loved ones when the city usually takes a slower than normal pace due to abstention of eating, drinking and smoking from dawn until dusk.
Ramadan offers the opportunity to connect with Islam and experience the beauty of Dubai’s cultural diversity.. Month of Ramadan will last for 29 or 30 days depending on phase of the moon and waning crescent.
Ramadan spirit
Since a few years, there are less restrictions in place and Ramadan is a time when everyone, UAE citizens and expatriates alike comes together. The whole city covers with lights and becomes especially lively in the evening with Ramadan markets, community events and many good restaurants for all budgets to enjoy iftars and suhoors.
There’s no requirement for non-Muslims to avoid eating or drinking in public during the day but as a sign of respect it’s appreciated to refrain doing so. Late afternoons business meetings might be replaced by invitation to attend Iftar or Suhoor especially from second week of Ramadan. Most companies will work fewer hours to accommodate more time for family and prayers.
During the whole month, just before Sunset, you will hear all over Dubai booming sounds of cannons to announce the end of fasting. The Police force operates special cannons with blank cartridges in different location around the city. This tradition dates back to 1960’s when there were no speaker systems in mosques to announce it was time to break the day’s fast and the tradition lives on even if all mosques are now equipped with loudspeakers to call for “Adhan” prayer.
This Ramadan an additional mobile cannon will travel through the city and visit 13 different locations starting in Satwa Grand Mosque before moving to Burj Khalifa, Nad Al Sheba (twice), Al Ghaf Walk, Umm Suqeim Majlis, Zabeel Park, Dubai Creek Harbour, then Hatta, followed by. Al Khawaneej Majlis, Festival City, and end its journey at DIFC.
Few words to get familiar with during month of Ramadan
Masjid : mosque
Suhoor: the early meal before day of fasting, usually served between 9pm and 1am in tents or restaurants.
Siyam: the hours of fasting (siyam means “to refrain”). The fast is a way of cleansing the body and soul and refocusing the mind to worship and gratitude.
Iftar: breaking the fast. At sunset (Maghrib prayer) after the sound of cannon signal, the city will come to a halt and people fasting will break the fast with a sip of water and some dates.
Taraweeh: extended prayers during Ramadan.
Zakat: charity – government and associations will run special initiatives and each individual will do their part.
Popular Ramadan Festivals & Markets
Those family friendly shopping events will flourish all around Dubai and are opened from sunset until early hours of morning and one of the best places to experience Ramadan atmosphere and explore local culture and cuisine.
Al Khawaneej Walk Night Market, Al Seef Ramadan Art Night & Lights Market, Al Barsh Pond Park Ramadan Market, Dubai Festival City Mall Ramadan Market, Emirates Towers Dubai, Expo City’s Ramadan Market, Mall of the Emirates.