Dubai during Ramadan

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thinking of taking advantage of the sale and popping to DXB for a few days. Hotels seem a bit pricy though, except in September... when some hotels have rooms at large discounts to their 'normal' rates (Hilton Dubai Creek: Executive room at 102 vs 268!). Presumably because it's Ramadan (ends on the 30th September) and they can't give the rooms away?

I'm assuming that a lot of places worth visiting will be shut during the day and the place will be quieter than normal, but is it still worth visiting then, or should I wait until later in the year?

Thanks

[HighFlyer]

I found Ramadan very interesting in a predominantly Muslim country. Yes, a lot of smaller ('family run') shops will have reduced opening hours or be closed most of the day. Shopping malls in Dubai i think tend to stay open though (minus most of the food places), and there will be extended hours in the evenings (usually till midnight or longer) for shops and restaurants.

As a non-Muslim you would not be expected to fast but simply have respect for those who are. Fasting men tend not to talk to women, and non-muslims should try not to eat, drink, chew gum or smoke during the day in public. I'd imagine Dubai would have restaurants that will still serve food for guests, given the large number of visitors/tourists, so it might be worth checking options with your hotel, though restaurants serving food tend to be curtained off o that fasting Muslims do not have to see people eating. Alcohol should still be available in hotel bars after sunset. Live music isnt allowed during Ramadan so i would not expect to see any in Dubai at this time.

The positives of visiting during Ramadan is that the evenings can be very interesting and lively as shops and parks stay open late and many restaurants extend their hours in order to feed everyone breaking their fast (iftar) and special/traditional foods are often available so a culinary journey if you like your food. Shisha should be widely available in the evenings too, and you should find a lot of people about in the evenings as families break fast together.

I guess it depends what you want to do on your trip. If you want to lay on the beach and relax then I'd go for it as you might not notice any real difference. If you want long lunches and tours outside of the hotels or want to see some of the 'real' UAE then you might have to make some changes (I'd imagine that Abu Dhabi will be much more sombre). Dubai is very westernised and with so many tourists and ex-pat's that I would imagine they would try to combine the cultures as best as they can.

Thanks,
Sarah

I spoke to a friend about this very thing, and its very similar to what Sarah points out that its very westernised and so whilst outlying areas and provincial towns and villages may be more on the quite side, Dubai itself should be fairly busy especially later in the evenings.

Laying on the beach a definite bargain in September!

For shopping, wining & dining be prepared to enjoy these things later in the evening, considering it mostly 40 degrees daily that might be a god send.

kind regards

alex

My Brother in Law and Sister in Law went during Ramadam, and they said it was almost business as usual for visitors. In some places things were shut for Ramadam but their hotel was serving food as normal, although it may have been room service during the day, I cannot remember. I think that in general, for those who are not observing Ramadam being discreet is the key, so as not to offend those that are.

Sorry spelled Ramadan wrong.

Thanks guys.

All booked, only Y [:(] but it's a relatively short flight and if I can survive 12+ hours down the back of an SQ jumbo I think I can survive this [:D] All I need to do now is skive off work at lunch time so I can try out the CH properly [}:)]