Ramadan is upon us and with it comes a month of fasting, reflection and togetherness.
This year, the holy month coincides with peak tourism season for the UAE and for many travellers heading to the country, it will be their first experience of Ramadan in a Muslim country.
Just a few years ago, the UAE marked Ramadan in a very different fashion – with only a few restaurants open during fasting hours, and even then diners were seated behind curtains. There was no background music and many bars and clubs were closed for the month.
Fast forward to 2024 and rules during the holy month have changed. Most cafes and restaurants can operate normally, and many extend their hours to be open from morning until midnight.
“The rules have relaxed a lot and I think it is a testament to the UAE’s understanding of its population and tourists visiting the UAE increasingly more and more throughout the years,” Ruqaya Al Hameeri, operations manager at the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre…