Ramadan 2019

It is official. The first day of Ramadan 2019 in Dubai and the UAE will be Monday May 6.

Ramadan is a holy month when Muslims commemorate the revelation of the Quran (the religious text of Islam) to the Prophet Mohammed. It is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

During this month Muslims are required to fast (sawm) from dawn until dusk; abstaining from eating and drinking, sex, smoking, and even chewing gum.

Dates – Iftar Meal

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam; basic acts considered mandatory for Muslims. The others are declaration of faith (shahada), prayer (salat), charity (zakat), and pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj).

Muslim children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, the sick, and certain other categories of people are exempt from fasting.

Those observing Ramadan rise early and eat a pre-dawn meal (suhur) before the dawn prayer (fajr).

The fast is broken after sunset and evening prayer (maghrib) with an evening meal (iftar). Traditionally, the meal starts with dates.

Many Muslims gather to break their fast with others. Huge iftar tents, offering extensive buffets, are erected at major hotels.

Dubai is noticeably quieter throughout Ramadan and the pace of life much slower. Muslims will commonly greet each other with phrases such as ‘Ramadan Kareem’ and ‘Ramadan Mubarak’.

Food package being given to a worker during Ramadan

When is Ramadan in Dubai?

The month of Ramadan starts and ends with the sighting of the new moon.

In the UAE a committee of government officials, religious leaders, and astronomers (the United Arab Emirates Moon Sighting Committee) confirms the sighting of the crescent moon (hilal) and the beginning of Ramadan.

In 2019 it is expected start on May 6 and end on June 3. The actual dates are dependent on the moon sighting and may vary by a day or so.

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. It has 12 months but only 354 days; shorter than the Gregorian (Western) calendar. Consequently, although Ramadan begins on the same day when using the Islamic calendar, it moves 11 days earlier each year on the Gregorian calendar.

Shawwal is the month following Ramadan. It begins with Eid Al Fitr, a three-day public holiday in Dubai and the UAE.