Ramadan in DUBAI

I’m thinking of going to Dubai during Ramadan, can anyone offer advice about food and alcohol during this period?

Do hotels still offer 24 hour service(club lounges)

The hotels are proving normal service.

Most of the food courts in the malls are open from 12.00 onwards (but not all the coffee shops). The food and drink outlets in the free zones are open normal hours.

I was in Dubai during Ramadan last year. The hotels serve food all day but they will often partition the restaurants during daylight hours so Muslims cannot see non-Muslims easting and drinking.

I went to Abu Dhabi and Muscat during Ramadan last year, and really enjoyed the experience. You are forbidden from eating or drinking in public during the day, and this is strictly enforced, although you can take a bottle of water into a bathroom cubicle if you get stuck and need rehydrating!

I stayed at the Hilton in AD, and they drew the blinds on the Windows, and pulled a curtain around the main restaurant, which was an interesting experience! Major hotels will provide facilities, although I think no alcohol during Ramadan. However, you can often get some cracking deals, and stay in some top hotels at q vastly reduced rate.

Also worth remembering, that it is a much quieter time of year to visit, so no queues for anything in general. I would definitely not let it out you off going during Ramadan, as long as you are aware that it will be a different experience. Also worth noting that most hotels put information on their websites of what will be open during Ramadan.

A number of hotels won’t serve alcohol until after 1800 or ifta

‘obviously I have touched a nerve with fdos_uk.’

No, you have posed a question that is impossible to answer definitively, as you can see from the divergent opinions in the answers.

@peter19 – if it helps I have been in Dubai over last 2 weeks and am currently in the airport. So the below is fact not opinion or guesswork.

There hasn’t been a single hotel I have been in that hasn’t served alcohol normally from 12pm or 2pm. Not just that but ‘attached’ places like McGettigans too. This has been reported in the paper as a change that has happened this year about a week after Ramadan started.

The food courts are mostly operating as usual from 12pm onwards. Includes Marina, Dubai Mall, MoE, Deira City Centre. Ditto restaurants especially the free zones like JLT.

All outlets in DIFC are open as usual from 8am.

Most of the fast food places at petrol stations etc are doing take away or delivery but generally not eat in.

Of course all windows are blacked out, curtained off etc but you would be hard pressed not to be able to get a beer or something to eat when you need it.