How to Behave During Ramadan in the UAE

Ramadan is one of the major events in Islamic culture as this is a holy month celebrated by Muslims all around the world. As an expat in the UAE, you should be aware on how to behave during this season, not only because strict rules are implemented, but to also show respect to our Muslim brothers and sisters who are fasting. Here we share some tips in making sure that we understand the do’s and don’ts when this season comes.

Ramadan is the time when Holy Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed. Muslims neither eat nor drink from sunrise until sunset and avoid unclean thoughts and bad conduct altogether. Muslims then break the fast everyday after sunset. The purpose Ramadan and the practice of fasting is a way to purify the spirit of the person as well as feeling empathy for the less fortunate , this teaches appreciation and humility , which is a great stepping stone to being one with Allah, their God.

Do’s and Dont’s During Ramadan Season in the UAE

There are some do’s and don’ts in celebrating Ramadan in the UAE to help you prepare and prevent any unintentional violations that may occur. Tips and suggestions are as follows:

Do’s

1. Introduce yourself to your Muslim friends and neighbors and wish them a happy Ramadan filled with prosperity and enlightenment. Join in the ‘Iftar’,which is the first meal of the day at pre-dawn.
2. Do charitable works in the UAE as this makes the holy month more memorable.
3. Be mindful in roads as people tend to rush home for Iftar which can lead to accidents.
4. Accept any food or drink offered by other people during Iftar as this is a gesture of kindness, friendliness and trust among Muslim brothers.
5. People tend to be tired during Ramadan due to fasting, stay tranquil as you can relate to their situation too.
6. Whether you are a Muslim or not, the rush hour change of time will definitely affect you in the UAE as people tend to go early to work from 7 am until 9 am and they will leave work from 3 pm to 4 pm , also expect traffic from 8 pm to 12 am because people leave after Iftar and ended at those times.
7. Learn to stay-up at night as the city will be filled with life at night during Ramadan so you don’t miss out on anything.
8. If invited to Iftar, bring some gifts and dates as dates are eaten during Iftar to break the fast.
9. Assimilate to the culture as you might find it interesting.
10. Enjoy everything as different experiences tends to make a person more compassionate and understanding to other cultures and traditions.

Don’ts

1. Drink or smoke in public as this is offensive and you may get arrested.
2. Play music loud in public. Please use earphones as this is considered being rude if you don’t.
3. Dressing skimpily, this applies to both men and women.
4. Get into fights or arguments as the holy month is for peace and love.
5. Show affection to the opposite sex, such as hugging and kissing, in public as this may offend some people.
6. Decline when invited to Iftar.
7. Stress on the rules as this is the time to be stress-free and be at peace with everyone and everything around you.

We hope that you try take note of these important points to guide you on how to behave and what is expected for non-Muslims while our brothers and sister are observing their beliefs. Ramadan Kareem everyone!