Ramadan 2017: Our Tips for Expats and Foreigners in Dubai During the Holy Month

With Ramadan 2017 just days away we got our heads together in the office and compiled our top tips for foreigners, whether tourists or newbie expats to the UAE, who will be spending time in Dubai during the holy month.

Don’t Be Blatant Eating & Drinking in Public

If you’re in your hotel then life will carry on as normal, for you anyway. However, when in public be aware that most people will be fasting. Do not sit, eat and drink in front of everyone to see – nobody might say anything but it looks rude. You can also find lists online of restaurants in Dubai that are open during the day.

Forget Lunchtime Meetings & Shisha

If you’re in Dubai for work and are used to a nice long business lunch perhaps accompanied by a shisha, forget it. Avoid trying to make or hold meetings with anyone around lunch time – most people are tired and thinking about a nap as opposed to business or work. Try to make meetings early in the morning or late in the evening.

Be Flexible & Plan for Disruption

Ramadan is essentially 30 days of mild disruption to usual business in Dubai. Everything carries on working; the days and nights just become confused as everyone’s body clocks get accustomed to the new schedule. Meetings will be cancelled last minute, deadlines will be missed and the demands on your patience will increase. The best advice is to go with the flow – people simply slow down, a lot, during Ramadan and so does everything else.

Go Visit a Tent for Iftar

Iftar is the meal when people come together as dusk to end their fasting. It is a very communal time. Dubai and the UAE have a very developed tradition now of erecting tents. You will see these all over the place as businesses, organisations and groups hold functions at iftar inviting colleagues, clients, friends and family. The image on this blog is very plush example of such a tent in Dubai. If you are invited to one make sure you attend. It is a great experience.

Be Careful Driving

During 9am -10am in Ramadan driving accidents increase. This is because most employers have later start times for staff during Ramadan allowing people a small lie in before coming to work. “…during Ramadan, drivers should be very attentive to their environment and drive with a mindset of others being illogical, in the sense that you should expect unexpected lane changes and abrupt braking.” Frederik Bisbjerg, Qatar Insured. Especially during the day, be extra attentive.

Release Your Inner Night Owl

If you are not a night person, Ramadan might change that. Dubai comes alive at night especially after the last prayers of the night called taraweeh. Seen as the last obligation of the day, people go out to let their hair down for a few hours, enjoy the air, shop, eat, drink and talk until the early hours of the morning. Forget visiting the malls or markets during the day – go at night for the real deal!

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