Tips for an expat's first Ramadan in Qatar
As Ramadan comes into full swing, many an expat may feel a twinge of worry. Especially if they are new to the Gulf and do not practice Islam. There may be some anxiety about breaking certain norms and rules that come into play at this time, or possibly offending someone without realizing it.
It’s always good to keep a few things in mind during this month, and we put together a few basic tips for those of you that are experiencing the month for the first time.
1. Fasting and abstinence
Like Lent, Ramadan is a time for fasting and abstinence. Eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum in public during the hours of sunrise to sunset is forbidden in Qatar, and is punishable by the law. Taking lunch at the office, however, is not outlawed (so don’t sweat it), provided it is done in a private space.
2. Clothing
To avoid unwanted attention, dress modestly as a gesture of respect to others. We know it’s hot outside, but it’s best to avoid wearing anything too revealing and try to keep to the general rule of covered knees and shoulders.
Public Displays of Affection are a bad idea. PDA between the opposite genders is frowned upon, so be careful to respect this rule. It has less to do with how affectionate people are in Qatar and more to do with the rule of abstinence during the day in this month.
3. Working hours
Another important thing to keep in mind is the change in working hours. Whether you need to go to the bank for a deposit or a government office to get something stamped, make sure you check the hours of operation before you set out. The working hours of many places change during this month, and there are few exceptions. Although the Ministry of Interior has allowed malls and other outlets to operate 24/7, be sure to check our guide to mall timings this Ramadan for a start.
4. Traffic
Traffic is not exactly the best thing about Qatar, but during Ramadan, especially during the hours of sunset, it tends to get a little crazy. People are usually rushing home from their jobs or errands at this time, and are eager to break their fasts and pray in a timely manner. Be sure to drive carefully and with patience at this time.
5. Always keep in mind
All anxieties aside, many non-Muslim expats actually enjoy this month in Qatar. The working hours are shorter, and if you’re hanging out with friends that are Muslims, you’ll likely be treated to more than a few hearty or lavish meals when they have suhoor and iftar.
Late night movies also seem to gain a lot of popularity during this time, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself at a 2:00 am screening of whichever blockbuster was popularly agreed upon for the evening.
You may not be able to party and let your hair down in public for a month, but that doesn’t mean you should feel alienated. Ramadan is seen as a time for communities to come together, so embrace it, be mindful, but also be comfortable!
Visit our Ramadan Page for more useful information about the Holy Month!
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Cover image: Shenghung Lin.
Wow...well said Acchabaccha..
Nice response
Once again this post from Qatar Living portrays some "information" which are far from facts.
The writer of this post has failed (and failed miserably) to carry out some fact-finding research before posting this article and has gone about saying "Like Lent, Ramadan is a time for ...")
First of all, the writer compares "Lent" practised by Christians to Ramadan practised by Muslims. There is no comparison between the two. Here are the major differences between Lent and Ramadan:
Lent is over a period of 40 days while Ramadan is over 30 days.
Lent prohibits eating of meat or poultry during the period of abstinence but allows the eating of fish, eggs, fruits etc. In Ramadan while fasting, one abstains from all food and drink during the period of fast.
Lent is restricted to eating certain solid foods and not to drinks. As such during Lent one can drink any beverages, including alcohol. During fasting in Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink anything while fasting --- and alcohol is totally out of the question for Muslims.
As such,there is just NO comparison between LENT and RAMADAN.
Secondly, the post says "Public Displays of Affection are a bad idea. PDA between the opposite genders ...during the day in this month." This is simply a "wild" statement. Public Display of Affection is not permitted or restricted to the month of Ramadan alone. It is not permitted throughout the year. PDA is not part of the culture and has nothing to do with Religion. Public Display of Affection cannot be seen in countries such as Myanmar, Bangladesh , India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan just to name of a few countries from the east let alone the Middle Eastern countries and several African countries. The culture of these countries that do not permit Public Display of Affection. It has NOTHING to do with RELIGION. As such, religious requirements should not get mixed up with cultural requirements.
lastly, writing just for the sake of writing does not make sense. Any posts from QL should be based on facts and be as near to facts as possible.