BCB May 2017: Ramadan in the UAE

01 Jun, 2017 - UAE Life & Economy

 

Good Morning

The Islamic Holy Month of Ramadan started on Saturday and will last until June 25th, when Eid Al Fitr is celebrated.

We get a lot of questions about Ramadan from our clients and contacts in the UK, and I hope some of the blogs attached here help build your understanding of how it impacts business and commerce.

Given that fasting during daylight hours is the most obvious manifestation of observing Ramadan, it still surprises me that food and drink sales actually spike during the month. It’s also good to know, as a child of the 1980s in the UK, that Vimto is a best seller in the Middle East region at this time too!

From a general business perspective, I always think that Ramadan is a good time for visiting the UAE. That’s especially the case this year as there’s no overlap with school & summer holidays. In general, people are here during Ramadan and whilst the business day’s timings are different (later start / earlier finish) and you’ve obviously got to be respectful of the rules around consumption in particular, it’s a good time to see contacts and business is most definitely still being done.

If you’re in the UAE or wider region in the next few weeks, you should try and go to ‘Iftar’ (the meal that breaks the fast at sunset); being invited to one by a business associate is a real honour.

Ramadan Kareem to all.

Regards,
Joe

Ramadan in the UAE
Know more about fasting, social activities and the pace of life during Ramadan.
Read more

The Food Business During Ramadan
While it’s easy to imagine the month of Ramadan as a freeze on most business transactions, the holy month actually sees increased activity in some sectors in the UAE. Read more

Meet the team: Vineetha Sony
Vineetha talks about everything from general economic trends in the UAE, to her favourite TV series! Meet Vineetha!