What is Ramadan?
The holy month of Ramadan is celebrated throughout Muslim countries including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Bahrain, Morocco and the Maldives from 1st – 30th September 2008, when Muslims must abstain from food, beverages and cigarettes during daylight hours. Non-Muslims are asked to respect those fasting by also not eating, drinking or smoking in public places from dawn to dusk. However, most hotels provide screened areas for guests to dine in private and, from 6pm onwards, hotel bars and restaurants operate as usual, the exception being Oman where you may only purchase alcoholic beverages via room-service. A conservative dress code should also be strictly observed. It must be remembered though, that this is a time for celebration and hotels do arrange sumptuous feasts at night in Ramadan tents. In fact, this can be a fascinating time to visit and those guests with a passion for culture will enjoy the unique ambience.
