Today marked the official beginning to Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar; the month of fasting. This is the holiest period for the Islamic faith in which all Muslims fast and pray during daylight hours. With over 90% of the country following the Islamic faith, Ramadan brings about large changes to everyday life.
1. During the Ramadan it is a punishable offense for anyone to eat, drink, or smoke in public. Out of respect for the Islamic fast, all consumption of liquids and food must be done behind closed doors (this becomes very difficult when it is 45 degrees celsius outside!) Many of the popular expat hotels will draw curtains over their windows and serve non-Muslims during reduced business daytime hours.
2. The UAE imposes restrictions on the hours of work during the day. Federal government departments and institutions, which is almost everything in this country, will have a mandatory reduced work day of 9am-2pm. For the whole month of the Ramadan our school day is over at 1:00pm so that the Muslim workers can be home for the 2:00 prayer.
At 7:00pm the bustling streets of downtown Abu Dhabi become like those found in a ghost town as everyone retreats inside and eats iftar, the evening meal when everyone breaks their fast. After 7:00pm all the stores will open for those who need to shop and buy food for suhoor, the meal consumed early in the morning before fasting.
Is this for every one or just the Muslims? OK Steve this is not the time to experience your jail time as we joked about before you left.
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