The city does not sleep during fasting month
The loud boom of the cannon to announce the iftar time, the streets that fill up after sunset with the aroma of various foods wafting in the air and long hours to unwind and catch up with family and friends, Ramadan nights in Dubai have their own characteristic.
The period before iftar when people observe fast and go about their daily routine is distinctively different from the post-iftar time.
After the cannon is fired, people head to the mosques for prayers and soon after the roads are crowded with cars and people. The Ramadan evenings and nights see many residents spending time with family or friends in several Ramadan tents across the city.
Emirati lawyer Yousuf Al Bahar still remembers the time when his father would take him to the Deira prayer grounds to watch the cannon boom after which they would break their fast by having a sip of water, eat a few dates before returning home to finish his iftar.
Those days, the sound of the cannon could be heard in every home in Dubai. But now, with the expansion of the city and the many high-rise buildings coming up, the sound is not that pervasive.
“The cannon continues to be a tradition to announce iftar every day in Ramadan and it has been observed since the 1960s. We used to hear the noise from our home in Deira but now it’s hard as the city has changed,” Al Bahar said.
He said that after a long day working between court chambers and his office, he heads to the gym and then returns home one hour before iftar.
“Ramadan is a spiritual month that brings you closer to your family. After the prayers, I go to my friends’ majlis and have tea, some food and discuss various topics. The city won’t fall asleep in Ramadan,” Al Bahar added.
Mustafa Fadhel, an Iraqi engineer, who has been living and working in Dubai for 15 years, said Ramadan hasn’t changed in Dubai. “I go to work and return before iftar time and catch up with some sleep. I have iftar with my family and then watch TV for some time before going out with friends. We usually prefer to visit Ramadan tents. It’s a good place to sit, talk and meet people. During Ramadan, you see everyone being more relaxed as the working hours are shorter,” Mustafa said.
Those days, the sound of the cannon would be heard in every home in Dubai. But now, with the expansion of the city, the sound is not that pervasive.