Ramadan is almost here! Show some respect for your Muslim friends and follow the rules listed below.Me, I'm flying out of the country tomorrow for about 3.5 weeks so I won't have to go through it. But I'll be here the last few days and give it a try. It'll suck I'm sure.

[/url]

--------

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/knowledge/features/17317-ramadan-dos-and-donts

You’ve heard all the rumours, now here are the facts. We present your essential guide on behaviour during the Holy Month

DO listen to music on your iPod if you wish. As long as the tunes you’re playing are inaudible to others, you won’t offend anyone.

DO make the most of the community spirit and food to be found in the iftar and suhour tents at many of the city’s larger hotels. Look upon it as an opportunity to relax, play games and experience some traditional Arabic hospitality.

DO get into the charitable spirit during the Holy Month. You don’t have to spend the earth – small gestures go a long way. From buying a construction worker some water at sunset to rescuing a kitten, every little helps, and it’s a great way to give something back to the community.

DO visit the free iftars at local mosques. They’re for everyone, rich or poor, young or old – there is no barrier. They are generally organised by the mosque committee, although neighbours and surrounding residents also bring delicacies such as dates and laban (a yoghurt drink), which they usually share with others.

DO go to pub quizzes during Ramadan. Anything that may distract the mind from its meditative state during fasting hours should be avoided, but bar quizzes that take place after 7pm are perfectly fine.

DO ask fasters how it’s going, but bear in mind that it’s a religious experience so keep your enquiries short and respectful, and avoid asking them how they are every two hours. You’ll only make them hungry!

DON’T smoke, drink, chew gum or eat in public in the hours between sunrise and sunset. It’s offensive, and blatant flouting of the rules could also get you a warning or fine from the police, or even result in you spending the rest of the month in jail.

DON’T dance or sing in public at any time, day or night. Not that you should have many opportunities – there will be no live music gigs during Ramadan, and only background music will be allowed in bars.

DON’T expect to have the kind of blow-out clubbing weekends you’re used to. Major nightclubs will be shut, but most bars and pubs will be open in the evenings. While some may open before

DON’T play very loud music at any time, whether in your car, on the beach or even at home. If it’s audible to others, it may offend.

DON’T wear any revealing or tight clothing in public.

DON’T swear in public. Blasphemy is frowned upon at the best of times, but during the Holy Month it’s particularly insulting.

DON’T Drink outside, even if you have been jogging or exercising. The general rule is no drinking, eating, or smoking in public, regardless of whether you think anyone can see you.

Buckwheat, from the old Our Gang shows, just turned Muslim. He took the name Kareem of Wheat.

Bah, humbug.

I assume you're in the Emirates or Malaysia with that list.

No pubs in Saudi at any time.

And I was in Ruwais (Abu Dhabi) for a couple of years and no pubs there either. Having to drive 250km to AD for a darts match got to be too much.

Yes, this is again a case of the guests in the country respecting the customs of the host.

Ramadan kareem indeed!

I assume you're in the Emirates or Malaysia with that list.

I'm in Dubai (actually, visiting Europe during most of Ramadan). I just noticed that on the left it no longer shows the poster's location. I wonder why?

Having spent quite a few Ramadan months in the Middle East, may I be permitted to make some observations?

The last few years were spent in Riyadh.

1) Muslims are required to work only six hours per day. This is good because it means they will only show up for 2-3 hours daily, thus remaining out from under-foot for most of the day, allowing non-Muslims to get on with the work.

2) Since they only work six hours (or less) daily, traffic improves greatly except during peak hours which change dramatically. What this means is traffic at 0700 in the morning is practically non-existent. It gets much heavier around 0900 and remains rather heavy until perhaps one hour before the breaking of the fast at sundown. They are home at this time, having made their supermarket runs to stock up on their night time goodies. The traffic one hour or less before prayer time is delightful and continues until the stores begin opening in the evening, thereby creating monstrous traffic jams all over the city.

3) One drawback to the six (?) hours daily is, if you have a contract with any branch of the military, there is little likelihood you can get any answers during this month and the two week holiday they get at the end of the month. This delay is unavoidable and frequently impacts your business operation. For instance, if you have a direct contract with MODA, don't expect to receive any checks during the month to pay off their previous invoices, and there will be several invoices in the pipeline at any given time.

4) No restaurants or eating establishments are open during daytime except for a few restaurants in the larger hotels. You either brown-bag it or go home to get that peanut butter sandwich.

5) You should not drink coffee or anything else even at your desk. I always had a private office so I simply closed the door and drank whatever I wanted. We had a non-Muslim teaboy and he could bring me whatever I wanted when desired.

6) Stores generally opened around 0900 and closed around 1200 during the day. They then reopened after the evening prayers and stayed open all night. This caused havoc in a marriage because I never wanted to face the traffic in the evenings and my wife always wanted to go out. Guess who won that fight?

7) What the Saudis do is they turn the clock upside down. They sleep most of the day and stay up all night. If you are resident in a Western compound this generally doesn't present a problem. However, if you are living on the economy, you should get prepared for neighborhood parties that last all night. They eat most of the night, thereby gaining weight during the Fasting month of Ramadan.

8) If you are a non-Muslim nation, it is a good time to invade any Muslim country. The military and the police are on shortened work hours during the day and they generally are either asleep or thinking about going to sleep so their attention span is not very good. At night they are all awake but they are eating, drinking and making merry so the attention span isn't any better than during the day.

I rather enjoyed staying in Saudi during Ramadan. I got caught up on my correspondence and, once I knew what the traffic patterns were, it was a breeze to get around town, except for number 6) above.

I apologize for the length of this but you should all be aware I have written and composed it by my own self, without help or assistance of any kind.

In Dubai, traffic deaths increase because at the end of the day you have people rushing home, weak and tired from no food or water all day and they can't wait to get home to eat. Maybe the rich Emiratis only work 2-3 hours a day, but I think the poor Pakistanis (which out number the locals) probably have to work the full six hours.

I'm happy to be away during this time. I'll be back for the last few days just to get a feel for it but I have no interest in going through it for a month.

Different strokes for different folks.

Agree with most of what ChuckD said about Riyadh.

In Iran there was no shortened working day during the Shah's time. My Armenian-owned civil contractor used to pile all his workers into trucks and take them for an hour's ride at lunchtime. As they were on a journey they were allowed to eat. Supposed to make up for it with another fast day later in the year, but that is individual conscience.

At the bottom of our kouchie lived the most prosperous carpet-seller in Shiraz. Every Ramadan he would drape his house in a big black shroud - like that one that covers the kabbala in Makkah - and play religious chants all night, every night, for the month. This was not on his own stereo, mark you, but a full-blown PA system that carried for at least half a mile. I lived 100 yards away.

The Iranis were a lucky lot in those days - they not only celebrated all the Muslim Festivals, but those of their history (Now Rooss - New Year - was 21st March) New Year, a festival of jumping through fire, summer and autumn festivals, Christmas, Western New Year and so on. Never got much work done, but a very happy people. Look at them now - apart from N Korea probably the most repressed nation on earth.

Malaysia too, has Jindu festivals such as Dipali, Western festivals such as Christmas, as well as the Muslim holidays.

Different strokes for different folks.

Agree with most of what ChuckD said about Riyadh.

In Iran there was no shortened working day during the Shah's time. My Armenian-owned civil contractor used to pile all his workers into trucks and take them for an hour's ride at lunchtime. As they were on a journey they were allowed to eat. Supposed to make up for it with another fast day later in the year, but that is individual conscience.

At the bottom of our kouchie lived the most prosperous carpet-seller in Shiraz. Every Ramadan he would drape his house in a big black shroud - like that one that covers the kabbala in Makkah - and play religious chants all night, every night, for the month. This was not on his own stereo, mark you, but a full-blown PA system that carried for at least half a mile. I lived 100 yards away.

The Iranis were a lucky lot in those days - they not only celebrated all the Muslim Festivals, but those of their history (Now Rooss - New Year - was 21st March) New Year, a festival of jumping through fire, summer and autumn festivals, Christmas, Western New Year and so on. Never got much work done, but a very happy people. Look at them now - apart from N Korea probably the most repressed nation on earth.

Malaysia too, has Jindu festivals such as Dipali, Western festivals such as Christmas, as well as the Muslim holidays.

I was in Iran from 1974 until early 1979 and don't remember Ramadan at all. I can't recall any celebration or holiday associated with it. Remember many a Now Ruz holiday out of country, though.

Spent most of my time in Tehran, Isfahan and Kermanshah. Enjoyed Iran until the revolution took hold. Then it became a little dicey.

Different strokes for different folks.

Agree with most of what ChuckD said about Riyadh.

In Iran there was no shortened working day during the Shah's time. My Armenian-owned civil contractor used to pile all his workers into trucks and take them for an hour's ride at lunchtime. As they were on a journey they were allowed to eat. Supposed to make up for it with another fast day later in the year, but that is individual conscience.

At the bottom of our kouchie lived the most prosperous carpet-seller in Shiraz. Every Ramadan he would drape his house in a big black shroud - like that one that covers the kabbala in Makkah - and play religious chants all night, every night, for the month. This was not on his own stereo, mark you, but a full-blown PA system that carried for at least half a mile. I lived 100 yards away.

The Iranis were a lucky lot in those days - they not only celebrated all the Muslim Festivals, but those of their history (Now Rooss - New Year - was 21st March) New Year, a festival of jumping through fire, summer and autumn festivals, Christmas, Western New Year and so on. Never got much work done, but a very happy people. Look at them now - apart from N Korea probably the most repressed nation on earth.

Malaysia too, has Jindu festivals such as Dipali, Western festivals such as Christmas, as well as the Muslim holidays.

I was in Iran from 1974 until early 1979 and don't remember Ramadan at all. I can't recall any celebration or holiday associated with it. Remember many a Now Ruz holiday out of country, though.

Spent most of my time in Tehran, Isfahan and Kermanshah. Enjoyed Iran until the revolution took hold. Then it became a little dicey.

Same time frame, but Shiraz.

Used to have to go to Teheran for business meetings, remember flying out of there in the clear winter air, looked back and there was a distinct brown dome over the whole city, while all around was bright sunlight.

Loved Isfahan, had many (Iranian) friends there.

1979 wasn't much fun, but I did get out early in the year.

Yes, the Alborz mountains trapped all that bad air from the cars and kept it in the city. It was great to go up into the mountains north of the city and get that cool fresh air.

I left in early 1979 as well. We evacuated our people after Khomeini took over. I was scheduled to go back in later in 1979 but the bad guys took over the Embassy and my trip was cancelled.

Isfahan was great as well. Wonder if the old Koroush Hotel is still there or if the revolutionary guard and SAVAMA have ruined it?

Interesting times, indeed.

Yes, the Alborz mountains trapped all that bad air from the cars and kept it in the city. It was great to go up into the mountains north of the city and get that cool fresh air.

I left in early 1979 as well. We evacuated our people after Khomeini took over. I was scheduled to go back in later in 1979 but the bad guys took over the Embassy and my trip was cancelled.

Isfahan was great as well. Wonder if the old Koroush Hotel is still there or if the revolutionary guard and SAVAMA have ruined it?

Interesting times, indeed.

They burnt the Shah Abbas (with the tiled balconies and big central courtyard), but it was rebuilt.

Forget the name of the place we used to stay, but it was fairly central.

Have a few souvenirs of my time there, but my wife took most when we were divorced, so a big chunk of my life is missing.

In Teheran I recall an expat restaurant called Jimmy's (??) with litre glasses for beer, two litre glasses if you wanted a good drink. But the beer varied from the undrinkable (Tuborg) through ones like Star to a brew called Medijeh (?). Can't remember them all now, but I had a real good time there.

Agree with most of what ChuckD said about Riyadh.

Me too. The only thing that has changed a tad is the opening hours for shops. The supermarkets (i.e. Tammimi, Carrefoure) are almost open as usual, other shops in general (i.e. Ikea) are not opening in the morning but opening after Sala 12:30ish.

And here's one good thing this Ramadan

Politics this week

Aug 19th 2010

From The Economist print edition

Lebanon’s parliament has passed a law allowing Palestinian refugees to work legally. The move gives the 400,000 Palestinians the same rights as other foreign workers and ends years of discrimination which limited them to the most menial jobs.

Maybe this will ease some of the pressure on Israel's Northern border.

And maybe soon the refugees will be allowed to move out of their camps into decent housing.

And maybe in the far distant future they will be accepted as Lebanese citizens. After all, most were born in the country. Only the grandparents now have any memory of the country left behind - and that has changed beyond recognition.