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Ramadan 2009 Abu Dhabi, Dubai, UAE

List of Ramadan activities, dates, opening times and hours for the month of Ramadhan in 2009 for Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, UAE. See the general Ramadan information page for dos and donts, and background to Ramadan in the UAE.

Eid Al Fitr (Eid Ul Fitr) holiday

Ramadan dates 2009

• For 2009 or 1430 AH (the Islamic calendar), the first day of Ramadan and fasting in the UAE is Saturday 22 August 2009 (announced 20 August 2009 by the UAE moonsighting committee).
• Last day of Ramadan for 2009 was announced as 19 September 2009 by the UAE moonsighting committee.
• Eid Al Fitr dates are Sunday 20 September 2009 until 22 September 2009.
• For 2009 or 1430 AH (the Islamic calendar), the first day of fasting is expected to be 20 or 21 August 2009 in the UAE.

Year	Start Date¹	End Date¹	Magrib/Iftar Times²
			01 Ramadan	29 Ramadan
1430 AH Ramadan 2009	22 August 2009	19 September 2009	18:49	18:20

1. Estimated dates in italics until confirmed by moon sighting committee. For 2009 the UAE Ramadan Moon Sighting Committee convened on the evening of Thursday 20 August 2009 (29 Shaban 1430).
2. Iftar/Magreb times are for Dubai. Add 4 minutes for Abu Dhabi, subtract 6 minutes for Fujairah.

Ramadan guidelines for non-Muslims

See Ramadan in Dubai for more detail but in general, do not eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum in public during the day in the UAE. Clothing worn should be more conservative than usual - cover up shoulders, and legs to at least the knees, preferably to the ankles. Wearing scarves is not necessary for women (or men for that matter).

School opening dates in Dubai and UAE after summer holidays 2009

UAE government schools will not open during Ramadan 2009, they will wait until after Eid Al Fitr to start the new academic year and open on Sunday 27 September 2009. Private schools in Dubai, schools in Abu Dhabi, and other UAE schools that follow the UAE Ministry of Education curriculum will also open after Eid Al Fitr. Schools following other curriculums (Western, Asian, etc) can choose whether they will open as scheduled during Ramadan or wait until after Eid Al Fitr. So far most non-UAE curriculum private schools appear to be opening as per the normal academic year. Schools opening after Ramadan will be expected to make up the those days with longer days or weeks of study during the rest of the year.

Ramadan timings Abu Dhabi, Dubai, UAE 2009

If you have information about opening hours not listed here, or corrections to the following information, please let everyone know by adding a reply to the Ramadan 2009 UAE topic. Thank you.

• Abu Dhabi Health Service / Ambulatory Healthcare Services (SEHA) healthcare center Ramadan timings 0900-1500 (9am-3pm) and 2000-0000 (8pm-midnight).
• Abu Dhabi Immigration opening hours 0900-1730 (9am-5:30pm), closed Fridays (and Saturdays?)
• Abu Dhabi traffic department timings (vehicle registration, traffic police fines, driving licences) 0900-1400 & 2000-2400, closed Fridays (and Saturdays?)
• Dubai International Airport continues as normal (24/7) including Dubai Duty Free, food court, cafes, restaurants, and Irish Village after customs and passport control for departures, or before customs if you're arriving (yes, you can still buy duty free alcohol).
• Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) customer service timings 0800-1630 Sun-Thu and 0900-1630 on Saturdays, except Al Reef Mall and Dubai Industrial City branches which are closed on Saturdays. Tel +971-4-6019999.
• Dubai Vehicle Registration - see Tasjeel below
• DNRD Dubai 0800-1730 (8am-5:30pm) Sun-Thu. For other UAE NRD offices, assume 0900-1400 unless further information available.
• Etisalat offices Sunday-Thursday 0800-1400 and 2100-2300, Saturdays 0800-1300, closed Fridays. Etisalat shops in shopping centers operate the same hours as the mall.
• Post offices in the UAE will be open 0900-1700 (9pm-5pm) and 2100-0100 (9pm-1am) Sat-Thu, and 2100-0000 (9pm-midnight) on Fridays.
• Schools should only be open between 0830 and 1400 (8:30am-2pm).
• Tasjeel vehicle registration and testing open Sat-Thu 0900-1330 (or 1500 for cars < 3 years old) and 2000-2400 (9am-1:30/3pm and 8pm-midnight).
• UAE federal government departments offical working hours during Ramadan 2009 are 0900-1400 (9am-2pm) according to a WAM announcement late Sunday 16 August 2009 (which corrected an earlier WAM announcement that said timings were 0800-1400).

Ramadan 2009 Abu Dhabi

• Al Diar Hotels (Al Diar Capital, Al Diar Dana, Al Diar Mina, Al Diar Regency, Al Diar Siji Fujairah) room rates starting from AED 350. Iftar and Suhoor buffets also.
• Al Hilal Bank - free Iftar at the Financial Mall branch in Al Sahel Tower, and free giveaways of Sadaka Boxes with Holy Quran, Imsakiyah calendar and other items (perhaps at all branches?).
• Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi - Iftar buffet for AED 145m, rooms for AED 450
• Shangri-La Abu Dhabi - Iftar buffet for AED 170
• Sheikh Zayed Mosque tours - free, start at 1000 (10am), a 1 hour guided tour including background on the month of Ramadan

Ramadan 2009 Dubai Iftar and Suhoor meals and buffets, hotel deals

• Atlantis Dubai - Ramadan buffet at half the price of the Burj Al Arab at AED 145, or stay in a room for AED 800.
• Burj Al Arab - for those ready to spend up large, they offer Ramadan buffets for AED 290.
• Crowne Plaza Hotel Dubai - Iftar from AED 140 per person
• Emirates Airline - 3 night hotel packages from about AED 250 per person per night (for twin/double rooms).
• Ewaan at The Palace, Old Town Dubai - watch the Dubai Fountain with your Arabic Iftar buffet. Probably expensive since the press release didn't give a price.
• Grand Millenium Hotel Dubai - Iftar meal in atrium with Arabic Oud music, raffle for spa treatment and Vienna holiday, AED 125 per person. Oasis rooftop cafe has views, shisha, Oud music, Arabic sweets, Suhur menu starting 2000 (8pm) for AED 95 per person (Shisha might be extra). Theme night buffets for AED 80-120 per person - Italian (Mon), Sushi (Tue), Asian (Wed). Accommodation + meal packages for AED 470-675 per person.
• Holiday Inn Dubai Al Barsha - launch of Xennya Terrace rooftop terrace with Ramadan buffets, and food also at the Zen themed Gem Garden.
• JW Marriott Hotel Dubai - indoor Ramadan tent with buffet and live cooking stations.
• Jumeirah Beach Hotel - Ramadan tent on the beach
• Madinat Jumeirah - Ramadan tent on or overlooking the beach
• Al Manzil and Qamardeen Hotels - traditional Iftar buffet in the Conservatory and Esca restaurants, and Suhour in The Courtyard (outdoors).
• Monarch Dubai - room + Iftar + Suhoor for two for AED 725.
• Raffles Dubai Iftar AED 155 at Azur restaurant (overlooks the gardens) from 18:00-21:30. Rooms for AED 700 include breakfast, Iftar or Suhour.
• Samaya Hotel Deira - 3 nights for the price of 2, and 7 for the price of 5 promotions during Ramadan, Iftar buffet AED 99 (in the Staircase Restaurant)
• Seawings flight + Iftar dinner for something different, and extravagent. Fly over Dubai at 1700 (5pm) from Dubai Creek to Jebel Ali Hotel for AED 1125 per person, or 1800 (6pm) flight to Dubai Park Hyatt for AED 1225 per person. Tel 800 SEAWINGS.
• Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding Iftar dinner, costs AED 75 dhs (was free in the past but credit crunch resulted in sponsorship of dinners drying up 2009). SMCCU is in the Bastakiya area of Dubai. Tel +971-4-3536666.
• The Dubai Mall Ramadan Tent Suhour buffet 2030-2400 (8:30pm-midnight).

See the list of Dubai hotels and Abu Dhabi hotels for contact details etc.

Ramadan Dubai 2009 events, exhibitions, competitions

• Du Telecom writing competition - write a Hekayat (short story) and send it to Du. They might publish it online at www.du.ae/hekayat, then the best stories decided by online voting will be published by Du in a booklet.
• Dubai TV and Sama Dubai TV Ramadan program schedule will include Al Jeeran (Neighbours), Hadeel Al Layl (Nightfall), Haqqi Berqabti (I Will Take My Rights), Omr Al Shaka (Age of Burden), Sawalef Taffash (Stories of Taffash), Zaman Al A'ar (Era of Shame).
• Etisalat 24 Millionaires promotion for Etisalat Wasel customers who recharge during Ramadan. Two per week win 2 million dhs each.
• Gulf News Blockbusters - answer quiz questions, win prizes, and get your photo in the paper.
• Mont Blanc Calligraphy Exhibition ("Letters") at The Dubai Mall from 10 September to 03 October 2009 in the Grand Atrium.
• Oriental Red Carpet Fashion Show on 03 September 2009 at the Dubai Ladies Club. Not carpets parading on the catwalk but an Emirati ladies fashion show.
• Night Sky charity campaign for Dubai Cares at The Dubai Mall in The Star Atrium - buy a star with proceeds going to Dubai Cares.
• Ramadan Cricket Tournament at Zabeel Park in Dubai from 22 August 2009 under floodlights. Organised by Dulsco Sport Club, supported by Dubai Municipality and the Dubai Cricket Council. Sixteen teams, 20-over matches, 2 matches per day at 17:30 and 20:30 (5.30 pm and 8:30 pm) but not on Fridays. Teams playing include Active IT Distribution, AMI, Arowana Consulting, Bhatkal CC, Dulsco SC, EIB, Emaar, ETA Ascon, HSBC, Jashanmal, Jotun Paints, Nasa Multiplex, Natural Stone, Rotary Humm.
• Ramadaniat Al Qasba 2009 in Sharjah (annual Ramadan event), organised by the Al Qasba Development Authority - Cosmos Mosaic (Arabic calligraphy workshops), Al Eman Oasis Tent (Islamic lectures - for non-Muslims also), Al Qasba restaurants will have special Iftar and Suhoor meals.
• Wafi Center fund-raising for the UAE Red Crescent organisation based around the Freej animated TV series in Dubai - a life size board game in the Wafi Center and other activities, and the Freej characters will be in the Khan Murjan souk area during weekends.

Ramadan Sharjah 2009 events and information

• Sharjah Expo Center Ramdan Festival 22 August to 03 October 2009: religious and cultural events, children's entertainment, prizes and promotions.
• Ramadan Sports Gathering 2009 at the Sharjah Ladies Club (SLC) 01-15 September 2009: basketball, volleyball, table tennis.
• Ramadiniat Al Qasbah 2009 at Qanat Al Qasba (QAQ) 23 August to 26 September 2009: Arabic calligraphy, religious lectures in the Al Eiman Oasis tent, cultural activities.

Other UAE Ramadan 2009 events, destinations, information

• Al Ain Zoo - night zoo, open from 2100-0200 (9pm-2am) during Ramadan.
• Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Charitable Foundation will deliver 1.6 million Iftar meals during Ramadan to beneficiaries in almost 100 locations around the UAE (WAM 02 September 2009). The same report said 600,000 people per day were being served but that might have been a typo, 60,000 per day sounds more like it.

Restaurants and cafes open during the day in Dubai and UAE during Ramadan 2009

Some entries on this list based on previous information (not confirmed for 2009), check with them directly. As a general rule, it is less likely to find anywhere to eat or drink in emirates other than Dubai during the day, and highly unlikely in Sharjah (a supermarket is probably your best option - but don't eat or drink in public or in your car). Restaurants and cafes that are open during the day will probably not look like they are - lights off, doors closed, curtains drawn, etc. It's not that they are operating illegally (an establishment applies for a special licence to remain open), it's done to remain subdued. Some large 5 star hotel private pool areas will allow (non-alcoholic) drinks and food.

To add an entry to this list, send an email to update at dubaifaqs dot com with establishment name, location, telephone number, opening hours, whether open for dine-in, takeaways, and/or deliveries. Or add a reply to the the Ramadan UAE 2009 topic in the forum.

• Supermarkets and service stations are open with salads, sandwiches, pies, prepared meals available. Don't consume them in public (including the beach) or in your car.
• Some drive through fast food outlets for example Burger King or McDonalds in Dubai (but probably not in other emirates). Fast food outlets outside shopping malls might also be open for takeouts.
• 4 and 5 star hotels in Dubai will usually have room service and possibly one outlet open for dine in.
• Berts Cafe The Greens - takeaways and deliveries.
• Chicken Tikka Inn - tel +971-4-4327235 for Ramadan Daytime Delivery in Dubai, Iftaar Buffet for AED 39.
• Circle Bagels, Beach Park Plaza opposite Jumeirah Beach Park, takeaways (and deliveries?), open from 0800, tel +971-4-3428177. Circle Cafe also at Dubai Media City.
• Central Perk - Umm Suqeim for takeaways, Rashidiya unknown.
• Costa Coffee - apartment buildings and freehold developments (some), Dubai free zones, some shopping malls.
• Dubai Airport - departures terminal after passport control (which means you have to buy a plane ticket to somewhere) restaurants and cafes are open 24 hrs, and the Irish Village serves alcohol.
• Dubai Festival City - possibly takeways from food court restaurants, try Casper & Gambini downstairs, entrance from Canal Walk, for dine in (2008).
• Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) - coffee shops and restaurants downstairs.
• Dubai Knowledge Village - food court restaurants and cafes are open during the day during Ramadan.
• Dubai Marina Mall - Favorite Things children's area coffee shop.
• Dubai Media City - food court outlets might be open during the day. In the past they have had a smoking tent outside. Everything closed on Fridays?
• Golf Clubs in Dubai - maybe not all of them.
• Friday Brunch at Emirates Golf Club - Fridays from 1200-1500 at the Sports Bar, AED 115 (adults), AED 55 (children) (2009). No alcohol served at the brunch during Ramadan. Similar deals at most large hotels in Dubai probably.
• Ibn Battuta Mall - possibly one or two food court outlets for takeaways only (try Charlie's Subs). Lime Tree Cafe at China Court end of mall?
• Limetree Cafe on Jumeirah Beach Road (great food), use the back entrance for daytime eating during Ramadan. Also at Ibn Battuta Mall?
• Mall of the Emirates - try Karim Beirut (tel +971-4-3412202), Salomontini (tel +971-4-3475844), Sezzam (tel +971-4-4095999), or St Maxim's (tel +971-4-3413415) for dine-in. Possibly a couple of foodcourt outlets for takeaways and/or children (Burger King, McDonald's, KFC, Subway?).
• More Cafe - Gold & Diamond Park no. Al Garhoud yes? Al Marooj Rotana (Business Bay) yes.
• Paul Cafe Marina Walk - takeaways only.
• Pizza Express (Jumeirah/Umm Suqeim) - takeways (and deliveries?) only from 12pm-Iftar except Fridays 1:30pm-Iftar, tel +971-4-3945616. Dine in after Iftar.
• Shakespeare Cafes - Hayya Club yes? Park n Shop Jumeirah (Al Safa Center) yes, Souk Al Bahar yes, Springs Town Center yes, The Dubai Mall no.
• Souk Madinat Jumeirah - Costa Coffee?
• The Dubai Mall - a couple of the food court restaurants for takeaways (Burger King, Charlie's Subs, McDonalds), also Wafi Gourmet. Le Pain Quotidien on L1 overlooking the Dubai Ice Rink is open for takeaways from 1000-1900 (10am-7pm). Apparently no dine-in outlets so you'll have to try next door at The Address Hotel, which is a bit more expensive, for a coffee and a sandwich.
• Vivel Patisserie - La Plage Jumeirah Beach Rd (behind Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf), takeaways only, from 0730, breakfast, sandwiches, tea, coffee. Tel +971-4-3443232.
• Wagamama - SZR Crowne Plaza for dine in, The Greens for takeaways.
• See the Ramadan Dubai 2008 and Ramadan Dubai 2007 notes for more details.

Ramadan 2009 arrests in Dubai

Dubai Police apparently released a statement to Maktoob Business on 09 September 2009 saying they'd arrested three people for eating and/or drinking during the day.

1. An Arab national male for eating and drinking in public during the day, released on bail.
2. An Arab national inmate at the Central Prison for eating and drinking during the day (presumably s/he was given an additional charge rather than arrested, unless s/he'd escaped first).
3. A European national for eating and drinking in public during the day, and consuming alcohol. Unknown if s/he was detained, convicted, or released on bail.

Last update Saturday 13-Sep-2014

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Abu Dhabi AUH ABD ADB, Ajman AJM, Al Ain AAN, Dubai DXB, Fujairah FUJ, Ras Al Khaimah RAK, Sharjah SHJ, Umm Al Quwain UAQ

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