Travel to Abu Dhabi and Dubai in Ramadan
Many friends of us, and travelers to Abu Dhabi and Dubai frequently ask an important question about traveling to our state within Ramadan times. Is that available?! Is there any restrictions to tour activity in Ramadan?! What would we need to take care of within such a religious occasion?!
So we decided to blog about it today to share knowledge to all the web community users.
What is Ramadan?!
Ramadan is a very special religious occasion for Muslims around world, it lasts for a whole month in which Muslims are meant to be better persons in customs and behaviors.
Although the fact is that Ramadan is not only about fasting to eat and drink during daylight times, but it is still the matter which effects tourism activity the most within Ramadan time. That is also surely has no effect the everyday life in Muslim communities and destinations anyway. In next paragraph we love to depict that and explain some facts which may be interesting for Abu Dhabi travelers and tourists in Ramadan
Are restaurants open in Ramadan?!
For sure Muslims (or at least majority of them) are meant to fast within daytime of Ramadan, But for sure also It cannot be a reason to close restaurants at all and specially the tourist ones (restaurants) of them!
Almost of restaurants keep working as usual with no change especially there are many not-Muslims are living in the both cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Travelers are welcome to go and ask for their favorite dishes exactly as usual. Just to note that restaurants are used to be busy within sundown time when Muslims have their first meal after fasting, So it is advised to avoid sundown times for being rush hours of service.
Touring times
Within Ramadan, There may be simple changes in the times of tours and trips, especially safari trips. There is no fixed rules for that and it actually needs to be revised with your tour operator before trip or within booking process.
Alcoholic drinks
There are many Muslim countries prevent any Alcoholic drinks within Ramadan and actually the UAE country is one of them. So in Ramadan you should expect that there is no wine served in desert safari camps or on board of dhow cruises.
The national tourism authorities used to announce restrictions about that yearly. Actually it is not just Ramadan but there are some other religious occasions in which wine serving has to be stopped, these occasions includes birthday of Prophet Muhammad (Al-mawlid Al-nabawey) and the new Hijri year feast.
Can I eat or drink in public in Ramadan?!
Definitely Yes, there is no restrictions for anybody (includes Muslims themselves) to eat or drink in public in Ramadan, Fasting itself is a spiritual worship which people are totally free to do or not do!
What about dressing?!
Being not Muslim you are not asked or requested to follow a certain dress code while traveling in Dubai or Abu Dhabi in Ramadan, except only within a visit to a mosque like Sheikh Zayed one in Abu Dhabi and the Jumairah mosque in Dubai or wherever. For more details about the dress code, please check our previous blog What to wear while in Abu Dhabi?!
When is Ramadan this year?!
This year – 2018 – Ramadan should begin in mid of May, May 15th lasting for 29 or 30 days later.
So it was all the main points about Ramadan for travelers and we hope it was useful blogging for you, and hope also you are now able to answer; Is there a travel restrictions during Ramadan?!
