Ramadam in Dubai

[Karen Amiss]

What must a femail tourist wear during ramadam in dubai.  Can tourists eat and drink during the day?

[linseli]

During Ramadan all consumption for pleasure, whether of food, drink or cigarettes, is prohibited between the hours of dawn and dusk.  Tourists should not eat or drink in public during the hours of fasting - you'd cause great offence if you do.  Sometimes hotels have enclosed dining areas where you can eat during the day without causing offence to the locals.

  

Because of this everything stays open a lot later during Ramadan so you can feast after sunset and feel free to eat and drink in public then.

 

Clothes wise - no shorts or bare ams. Keep the flesh covered.  I worked with someone who wandered around in a short skirt during Ramadan and couldn't understand why people looked unhappy about it!  As a Western tourist there's no imperative to cover your head provided you're conservatively dressed but it might be advisable to keep a scarf with you - you may visit somewhere where covering your head would be a much apprecated sign of respect. 

 

Check with your hotel - in many it can be a free for all - some screen off their beaches so you can still take a bikini with you and enjoy the weather but you won't offend those obeserving Ramadan.

 

Provided you recognise that this is a very important time for Muslims and act with some discretion you should have no problems.