Dubai during Ramadan

[chicken legs]

I am visiting Dubai during Ramadan this year and wondered if anyone could tell me whether alcohol is sold in bars and restaurants during this time or if Im in for a teetotal week! Also, can you take duty free alcohol into the country at this time?

[Propellerhead]

Can't answer your question, but I was thinking of going myself in mid-end of November. Can you tell me when ramadan starts / finishes, as I might decide to go another time if its then. Thanks

[AMEX]

Looks like there will be a few of us at that time then ;)

[chicken legs]

Ramadan is from 6 Nov until 6 Dec I believe. There are some great deals on hotel accommodation during this time. May see you there!!:)

[B737CL/NG_Mech]

Hy,

I visited Dubai two years ago during Ramadan. My company sent me to Dubai to handle our A/C OPS to Colombo (SriLanka) and Male (Maledives). In my opinion the people there are very open minded on other cultures and religions. To answer your question: Yes, alcohol is sold during Ramadan. It´s a bit more difficult but there are enough bars selling alcohol. The only thing you should be aware of is, don´t eat, drink or smoke in public before sunset during Ramadan. They gonna take this serious. Most Hotels vave a serperate area, where foos and drinks are sold for foreign people during the day. If you have more questions regarding life in Dubai feel free to send me a private message.

yours,


B737CL/NG_MECH

[BlueEagle]

Last time I was there the hotel bars were closed at lunchtime but opened after sunset. Food was available in one part of the coffee shop or on room service. Heed the warning of B737CL/NG_Mech, dont eat or drink in daylight in public.

[newswatcher]

...and believe it or not, that includes no chewing gum in public. If you are in the wrong place at the wrong time, the UAE equivalent of the muttawa may want a quiet word!

If you are taking "Mrs Chicken Legs", she may need to consider wearing clothes in public which are not "revealing", although the "dress code" for women is much more relaxed than in Saudi.

[cargosales]

Was there at that time last year and most of this is spot on. It's a bit restrictive but not enough to be a real pain.

Hotels didn't serve alcohol during the day but it's a different story at night :-) Hotel bars open as usual as are nightclubs etc.

It's the 'in public' bit that they are really hot on, especially if you find yourself in Sharjah which is only 20 minutes down the road. It's a different Emirate and much stricter than Dubai.

No problem with duty free coming out of the country but you may want to check about taking it in. Try your airline who should know. Don't think it will be a problem though.

Be sensible / discreet and you'll have a great time :D

CS

[AMEX]

Sorry to ask but what's got to do with Jetblast ?
I mean Middle East would have been better, surely.

[Propellerhead]

Thanks for the replies. How about the nightstop forum? Certainly not jetblast unless anyone knows any good ramadan jokes?!

[AMEX]

Thank you Flaps;)

[itwilldoatrip]

Just get pissed go to the usual places in whats on.

[Flat-Spot]

No problems regarding duty free in fact, you can pick up a whole selection of booze and smokes at the arrivals duty free shop right next to where you collect your bags. Someone may be able to correct me on this but if I remember correctly, the limit is 1000 cigs and something like 2 bottles of spirits and 2 bottles of wine or 2 small cases of beer with 2 bottles of wine or a combination thereof! ( I'm also certain that duty free is open 24/7 even during Ramadan!)
Regarding behaviour during the day as already stated, don't eat, drink or smoke in public...most hotels and clubs will have a restaurant or some sort of food outlet open during the day..however no booze until 6 or is it 7 pm. You can even get a Fast Food meal from you favourite outlets if you take it away or get it delivered! After 7pm things are pretty much normal except that night clubs etc are not allowed 'live' music or even a DJ therefore no dancing, but that only gets in the way of the drinking anyway!

Bottoms up

F-S

[newswatcher]

Flat-spot, I believe the evening timing is very much dependant upon the timing of sunset, which used to be marked with the firing of a field-gun.

The actual start of the Ramadan period is marked with the sighting of the New Moon. The first person to see this and report it, used to get a reward. In recent times, the rules were "bent" on several occasions by sending up someone in an aircraft, to high altitude, so that he would be the first person who could see the moon breaking the horizon!

[Flat-Spot]

Newswatcher, You are right, the end of the fast is still signalled by a canon in Bur Dubai...this signals Iftar, you can now break your fast. However, the opening time of the Bars stays fixed throughout the month unlike the length of the fast which gets longer and longer each day!
By the way, you are right about the start of Ramadan, it all depends on the sighting of the new moon...but I think it will begin around the 6th of Nov this year, it moves back 10days every year.

F-S

[chicken legs]

Thanks alot for all the information - most helpful. Will definintely be heeding all your warnings and save myself for the evenings!:D

[Lodestar]

What about Qatar/Doha during Ramadan?

[Bullishit]

:mad: Dont go on the roads (by taxi or other means) between 17:30 & 18:30 as all the poeple who have been fasting all day are bent on food & dont care for anything else.Its a fact here that there are more accidents at that time during ramadam than any other time of the year.