DUBAI // For many Arab expatriates in the UAE, Ramadan is a month to reflect and spend quality time with family and friends.
Dana El Kalache, 27, plans to attend different iftars across Dubai, promoting her favourite ones through her blog, TheScoopDXB. “It helps with people’s decision-making because there are so many iftar experiences being offered across Dubai,” said Ms El Kalache, who is Lebanese. “Especially during Ramadan, you have to be picky with where you choose to dine.
“The last thing you want after a day of fasting is to be disappointed by your choice of restaurant. Iftars are not cheap, so I like to ensure that the experiences I choose to promote are a true reflection of what you can expect in terms of food and service.”
This is Ms El Kalache’s fifth Ramadan in the UAE and she has tried to fast as much she can. “In my first corporate role in Dubai, I had to deal with being outdoors and going from one client to the other. It was physically exhausting,” she said. “But now, being in the office, I find it easier because you’re away from the heat. The hardest thing is the lack of water, especially with Dubai’s heat.”
She manages to channel her energy in different ways, including charity work.
“During Ramadan, your mindset is a bit different,” Ms El Kalache said. “Rather than being overwhelmed with work and social commitments, I feel there is more time to see family and friends than on normal days. Ramadan is a time filled with big get-togethers and it promotes reconnecting with extended family and friends who you don’t manage to see as often as you’d wish.”
She and her husband sometimes visit his family in Abu Dhabi for iftar. “We switch between our families and enjoy the time we spend with them,” she said. “I love having iftar at home rather than outside because it’s intimate and there are always favourite dishes that my mum makes. It’s cosier. Eating out in a big group can get overwhelming.”
She said the hotel tents were a good way to unwind after iftar. “Playing cards in hotel tents is what usually happens,” she said. “It’s something I look forward to during Ramadan because the day-to-day life is always action-packed so it’s a peaceful time where everyone’s laid back and taking it easy.”
Ms El Kalache said that Ramadan, to her, meant learning how to be more patient with others.
“On normal days, you tend to be impatient and negative towards disappointing situations,” she said. “In Ramadan, you think twice before you act. You practise portraying more patience towards others. You go out of your way to be more supportive. Ramadan is a relaxing time and a break to reassess your priorities and to take time off from the hectic Dubai lifestyle.”
cmalek@thenational.ae