Over the past few years, the UAE's rules regarding restaurant operations during Ramadan have softened.
Until recently, food courts were behind opaque partitions for the holy month. Before that, many would not even open until sunset. However, things have changed.
Sara Yousef, a cultural speaker for the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for Cultural Understanding, says: “The easing of rules has made things more inclusive because not only do non-Muslims not fast, but there are also cases where Muslims are exempt from fasting.
Also read: Impressive Ramadan tents in the UAE, from Burj Al Arab's first to Emirates Palace's new majlis
“This includes the age factor – from children to the elderly and others who might have certain health conditions – to women on their period or those who have recently given birth. As such, having fewer restrictions around daytime dining is helpful both for visitors and residents who are not fasting.”
Here's a look at some rules that have changed over the years and a few that haven’t – plus tips on being respectful despite the easing of restrictions.
Eating and drinking in malls
No matter the time of day, food courts in most shopping centres in the UAE are often teeming with people. Until a few years ago, though, things were different during Ramadan.
“Back in the day, we had to take permits for restaurants to be operational before iftar hours,” says Somya Jain, chief executive of Chatori Gali, an Indian street food restaurant. “After that, the law changed to no permit, but outlets were required to cover the dining area with curtains or a barricade. For the past few years, operations are as normal.”
By 2018, food courts were allowed to serve during the day, albeit behind screens or curtains. By 2021, mall restaurants and cafes across Abu Dhabi and Dubai were allowed to remove the partitions, even during fasting hours.
This year, eating and drinking are allowed in all parts of a mall in both emirates. The rules vary in other emirates, though. In Sharjah, for example, restaurants need to apply for permits to cook, display and serve food, so it's best to check with the mall or restaurant before visiting.
“Although the rules have changed, we try to keep dining low-key and prioritise filling indoor seats first to avoid assigning tables in the outdoor areas as a sign of respect for those who are fasting,” Jain says.
Dining during the day
As with malls, standalone restaurants – indoor and outdoor – are allowed to serve food and drinks during the day.
When ordering in, especially at the workplace, Yousef recommends eating in another room out of respect for colleagues.
“The majority of people who fast do not have an issue if someone is eating when they are not,” she says. “When a colleague comes in with a hot coffee that smells so good, it’s challenging for someone who has not had their morning cuppa, especially in the first week of Ramadan. So be aware of your surroundings and the people around you.”
Loud music and live entertainment
While beach clubs and other open-air restaurants are open during fasting hours, loud music is not permitted outdoors until iftar, with some venues such as Surf Club on West Palm Beach playing no music in the daytime and Chouchou on J1 Beach playing only quiet lounge music.
Most venues tend to stick to ambient music. Raspoutine in DIFC will remain open for the first time this year, playing only background music, the same goes for Lock Stock and Barrel in Abu Dhabi, which will not host any DJs or live bands.
Concerts continue to stop during Ramadan, adds Yousef. “While rules for the volume of music differ by venue and even by emirate, concerts in outdoors arenas come to a stop during this month as there is a chance of the music being audible even to those passing by the area.”
Live music, however, is allowed for private gatherings in hotel ballrooms, as well as on cruise ships and yachts after sundown.
Open-air events continue to be on the down-low or disallowed. Holi, the Indian festival of colours, falls on March 14 this year, with some venues hosting events either in February or after Eid Al Fitr.
Being discreet and respectful is important throughout the holy month. “It’s important to stay mindful, which can be done by curating meaningful iftar experiences, keeping the ambience respectful and embracing community initiatives,” says Kevin Joshi, marketing director at Atelier House Hospitality, who has been working in Dubai's food and drink industry since 2014. He adds that the changes to Ramadan rules are “blending tradition with innovation and making this time of year even more special for everyone”.
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
The biog
Family: wife, four children, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren
Reads: Newspapers, historical, religious books and biographies
Education: High school in Thatta, a city now in Pakistan
Regrets: Not completing college in Karachi when universities were shut down following protests by freedom fighters for the British to quit India
Happiness: Work on creative ideas, you will also need ideals to make people happy
RESULT
Australia 3 (0) Honduras 1 (0)
Australia: Jedinak (53', 72' pen, 85' pen)
Honduras: Elis (90 4)
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Northern Warriors 92-1 (10 ovs)
Russell 37 no, Billings 35 no
Team Abu Dhabi 93-4 (8.3 ovs)
Wright 48, Moeen 30, Green 2-22
Team Abu Dhabi win by six wickets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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