New to DubaiRamadan in the UAE: what changes in Dubai and how to be respectful
During Ramadan in the UAE, the working day gets shorter, streets are quiet in the daytime and evenings are busy and social. If you're not Muslim you don't have to fast. You should still avoid eating, drinking or smoking openly in public during daylight, dress a little more modestly and plan your day around iftar, the meal at sunset when the fast ends.
Below is how a normal day changes, and the small things that show respect, so you can stop worrying about getting it wrong.
What Ramadan is, and when it happens
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. From dawn until sunset, Muslims go without food, drink (not even water) and smoking. The month lasts 29 or 30 days and ends with Eid al-Fitr, a public holiday.
The Islamic calendar follows the moon, so Ramadan starts earlier each year. The exact start is only confirmed once the new moon is sighted, usually the evening before. If you're booking flights or a move around it, leave a day of slack either side. Public holiday dates are in our everyday life guide.
Ask people who've lived here, then check for yourself
Friends and colleagues who've done a few Ramadans in Dubai can tell you what the month actually feels like. Listen to them. Just don't take what they say as fact. Things here change quickly, and timings and rules can differ from one year to the next. Check this year's announcements and get a second opinion before you rely on anything.
This guide covers Dubai. If you live in another emirate (Sharjah, say) and work in Dubai, don't assume Dubai's way of doing things applies at home. Check the local rules.
Working hours get shorter
Private-sector working hours drop by two hours a day during Ramadan. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE, the federal labour ministry) announces the change each year. Ask your HR team what your company's Ramadan hours are and whether it allows flexible or remote working.
Federal government offices have shorter days too. The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) sends out a circular with their Ramadan hours every year. Schools often change their timings for the month as well, and your school will tell you what to expect.
For a newcomer the biggest effect is on admin. If you're partway through your visa, medical test, Emirates ID or bank account, service centres may open later or close earlier than you expect, and paperwork that's already slow can take longer. Check the opening hours online the day before, then go in the morning.
Replies slow down in the afternoon. Colleagues who are fasting get tired by mid-afternoon, especially in the first week, so meetings tend to move to the morning. Go with it.
Eating, drinking and smoking in public
The rules have relaxed. In 2021 Dubai Economy (the emirate's economic department) sent out a circular saying restaurants no longer had to screen their dining areas during fasting hours. Some places still stay closed until sunset, though, so check before you go out hungry.
The courtesy hasn't changed. Most people around you have gone all day without food or water, in Dubai heat. Eating a sandwich as you walk through a mall, or sipping coffee at a bus stop, isn't kind, even if nobody says anything.
- At work, eat in the pantry or a closed room, and ask your manager what's normal in your office.
- In the car, be discreet, especially at traffic lights.
- Skip chewing gum and smoking in public places during the day.
- Not everyone fasts. Children and people who are ill, for example, don't have to, so seeing kids eat is normal.
- Eating and drinking on Dubai Metro trains and buses isn't allowed at any time of year, and RTA (the Roads and Transport Authority) can fine you for it. Our RTA and Nol guide has the other rules.
Prayer, mosques and the evening rhythm
Muslims pray five times a day all year round, and you'll hear the call to prayer from local mosques. In Ramadan there's an extra night prayer, Taraweeh, after the evening prayer. Mosques fill up, and in some neighbourhoods cars line the roads nearby. Give yourself extra time if you drive past a mosque in the evening, and don't block anyone in.
You'll hear "Ramadan Kareem" everywhere (roughly, "have a generous Ramadan"). Say it back, or say it first. "Ramadan Mubarak" works too. People notice the effort.
Iftar and suhoor: plan your day around sunset
Iftar breaks the fast at sunset, traditionally with dates and water. Suhoor is the meal before dawn. Both times move a little each day, so check them rather than guessing. There are plenty of prayer-times apps that show them. Our list of essential apps covers the other apps worth having on your phone.
The hour before iftar is the trickiest part of the day. Everyone heads home at once, and some drivers are tired and hungry. Drive calmly and leave extra space. Once iftar starts, the roads empty for a while.
Food delivery gets swamped just before sunset, so order well ahead. Our delivery apps guide explains how the main apps work.
After iftar the city wakes up. Restaurants fill up, and malls stay open later than usual, with some open until midnight or 1am at weekends. If a colleague or neighbour invites you to iftar, go. It's a welcome, not a test.
Dress, noise and everyday manners
Cover your shoulders and knees in malls, offices and other public places during Ramadan. Swimwear is fine at the beach or pool.
Loud music, dancing and noise in public come across as disrespectful during the month. Keep the music down in the car and at home, especially with the windows open. Public displays of affection, swearing and arguing in public draw more attention than usual, so save them for later.
Nightlife and entertainment are quieter. Regular events may change their timings or pause for the month, so check before you go.
A quick checklist for your first Ramadan
Keep this somewhere you'll see it in the first week.
- Check the expected start date and keep a day of flexibility.
- Check this year's rules and timings, and get a second opinion rather than relying on one person.
- Do admin in the morning, and check office hours first.
- Eat and drink discreetly in daylight, and never on metro trains or buses.
- Keep a prayer-times app on your phone so you know when iftar is.
- Avoid driving in the hour before sunset if you can.
- Order iftar delivery early.
- Learn "Ramadan Kareem".
- Say yes to an iftar invitation.
What to read next
Ramadan lasts a month, and the other eleven months come with their own unwritten rules. Read things you need to know before living in Dubai next.