everything you need to know about visiting dubai during ramadan

• Dubai experiences an influx of tourists all around the year but during Ramadan, there are a lot of things the tourists should know about. This is the ultimate guide for tourists visiting Dubai during Ramadan.
• Dubai is a city filled with culture and traditions. Islam is the official language of the United Arab Emirates, with over 75% of the population being Muslim. But what makes Dubai so special is that it supports all the religions gives freedom to them.
• Dubai is popularly known for its tourism and ranks under the top five tourism destinations in the world. 

What is Ramadan?

• Ramadan is also called Ramazan. It takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and celebrated by Muslims all across the world.
• This ninth month is observed as the month where Allah gave Prophet Muhamad the first chapter of the Quran. This is the purpose of Ramadan.
• During Ramadan, the Muslims pray, fast, and reflect on the community in order to get closer to their God, Allah. They abstain themselves from any sort of pleasure and it is the time when families and friends get along and celebrate

How to greet people in Dubai during Ramadan?

• Just like you greet people when it is the occasion of Christmas or Diwali, you should always greet Muslims in Dubai during Ramadan. 
• Now, if you are confused about how to greet them, you can say “Ramadan Kareem”, “Ramadan Mubarak” or “Wish you a blessed and healthy Ramadan”.

Food and drinks during Ramadan – Iftar

Iftar (also called Ftoor) is one of the traditions of Ramadan and is celebrated with the family or the community.

During this, Muslim people gather together to break their fast. They end their daily Ramadan fast during sunset after they call for the prayer.

What are the laws for eating in public during Ramadan?

• United Arab Emirate’s Federal Law says that it is a crime for anyone to eat or drink in public 10 minutes before dawn till the sun sets, i.e., at iftar. 
• Being a tourist in Dubai, it should be our general courtesy that we refrain from consuming anything in public during these hours. It shows how we respect Ramadan and the entire community itself.
• Restaurants follow the same thing during these times, they are not closed, they do operate but they have a private-closed section where people who aren’t fasting can eat. 
• Let us all respect the spirit of Ramadan.

Where can I eat in Dubai during Ramadan?

• Most of the prime malls are open for people who aren’t fasting. They extend their opening hours to accommodate with eating times. 
• There are plenty of options for the non-Muslims or people who aren’t fasting to enjoy their food.
• Places like the Dubai Mall, Jumeirah, Bluewaters Island, Downtown Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, Al Barsha, and Al Quoz will continue to serve like they were with extended work hours.

How should be the public behavior during Ramadan in Dubai?

There are certain sets of actions and rules you need to follow during Ramadan. These actions are really important to Muslims who are celebrating this occasion and are fasting.

Here are a few things you need to keep in mind while you are in public:

• Dress conservatively, this applies to both men and women.

• Do not be loud in public or play loud music. 

• Greet people who are celebrating Ramadan accordingly.

• Try to learn more about the Islamic culture and Ramadan.

• Do not smoke, eat, or drink in public.

Shopping and Sales during Ramadan

Dubai is a city known for its luxury and shopping. During their festive season, Ramadan, every shopping destination has a list of offers and discounts for you. Ramadan is the best time to make the most out of Dubai’s shopping extravaganza. The shopping deals extend from home appliances, car deals, gadgets, apparel, and even food! Various offers extend on food and special food is being introduced for the festival of Ramadan.

Shop at Ramadan Night Market

• One of the most celebrates places during Ramadan in the night market. People from the neighboring countries gather here to celebrate Ramadan. 
• It is set up as a Bazaar to provide a unique and authentic shopping experience. There are a variety of options for products ranging from electronics, health, beauty, jewelry, handicrafts, and collectibles.
• You get amazing offers and bargains during Ramadan, and the best part is that you get lip-smacking meals all lined up with a bunch of options to choose from.

Where: Hall 7 & 8 of Dubai World Trade Centre

Traffic during Ramadan

• Right from the first day of Ramadan, traffic starts meeting new heights. There is a change in working hours and office timings which result in peaks of people returning home at the same time in the evening.
• People rush home for their iftars in the evening and this can get really difficult for all the people.
• A lot of accidents have been reported during these times, mainly because of the rush.
• There are also certain side effects which come into the picture when you are fasting. Both of these combined make people more prone to accidents.
• Luckily, the government of the United Arab Emirates knows how to deal with it. They have studied and laid out navigation routes and instructions specially for times like Ramadan to help people on the roads.

Tourist attractions visiting hours during Ramadan

Another plus point of 'visiting Dubai during Ramadan' is that there is a lesser crowd in the sightseeing places comparatively. 

These tourism places are less busy during times like these and have alterations in their opening hours. However, some places might be closed for the majority of the time.

Here are the timings for some of the most visited destinations in Dubai:

• Burj Khalifa: Opens at 11 AM

• Buca Di Beppo: Opens after Iftar

• Al Hallab: Opens after Iftar

• Dessert Safari: No live performances

• Dubai Palm Cruise: No liquids served

• IMG Worlds of Adventure: 3 PM – 9 PM

Ramadan Traditions in Dubai

As Dubai is filled with cultures and traditions, it is important to know about the traditions being followed during Ramadan

Suhoor

This is the early meal which takes place before the dawn cracks. Muslims gather, just woken up from their sleep, to call for prayer and partake in Suhoor. In this, they prepare for the day of fast.

Siyam

Siyam is the period of fasting which happens in a day. It is the time when Muslims refrain from consuming anything, even water. They do this between the hours of sunrise and sunset. They are also supposed to refrain themselves from any sort of bad thoughts. This is the way to cleanse their inner selves.

Iftar

Iftar takes place at the sunset. In this, Muslims take a pause and join each other for a feast. This is the time when they break their fast and it is traditionally done with a sip of water.

Taraweeh

Taraweeh is the prayers that hold the utmost significance for Muslims. Muslims read one-third of the Quran every day, so by the end of Ramadan, the whole book has been recited.

Zakat

Charity is one of the most important parts of Ramadan. A whole lot of organizations and individuals set up charities to help the ones who are less fortunate.

Visiting Dubai during Ramadan makes it very special for the tourists. They get to experience things they wouldn’t have experienced otherwise. Dubai’s cultures are even more enhanced during Ramadan. Dubai makes for a remarkable experience during this holy festival. With this guide, you are all set to visit Dubai during Ramadan.