Ramadan Guidelines
For those of you that are new to Doha and shall be experiencing your first Ramadan, here are a few pointers-:
1. Don't wear shorts, spaggetti straps, mini skirts or
low tops out in public.
2. Don't eat, drink or smoke until sunset when in public.
3. Don't have noisy functions at your home if you live in areas where people are fasting etc..Keep the music down and vistors indoors.
4. Try and avoid driving just before sunset as the driving is pretty wild and an accident will result in a long traffic police wait until after eating time.
5. Best time to food shop is during iftar (sunset and breaking fast time). Calm supermarket and calm traffic.
6. Even if living in a compound, do check on swimming pool rules food & bev wise... some may have restrictions despite the pool being a private one..
7. Last year the afternoon saw a packed corniche..... don't use this option as a route that will be free of traffic...its nos but at snail pace.
8. Morning traffic is congested a bit later than the usual 6.45am start due to schools and governments generally starting around 8am. Keep this in mind for getting to work etc...
9. It is fine for babies and small kids to eat and drink in public....
10. Ladies - quite a few salons are open over the lunch, afternoon period such as Nails etc.... (for those working and not ready to deal with the intense evening traffic).
12. I hear that the cinemas at the city center should do afternoon sessions so double check if lost for kids entertainment.
13. I know that Ray's Reef will open two days a week in the morning for families that don't venture out at night. I believe its Thursday's and Saturday's that they will open for morning sessions. No food and beverages on sale, so you will need to take your own for your kids.
14. Lunch and coffee's are served at the hotels, usually the coffee shops for those wanting a bite out of the house.
Can't think of anything else to add... people do add up anything in further posts that will help Doha newbies..
Torc and Torque,
I agree with you, amazing the progress here.
I also thing that it will even go faster, if the areas for improvement become public and can be debated (like we are doing here)! That's why i bother to express my toughts.
stay well
:)
I dont think there is any hard rules as mentioned. Go to the malls during the night.. you will see many in short skirts and spaggetis.
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It Takes 72 Muscles to Frown...And Only 14 To Smile.
: ) Keep Smiling : )
I had the same thing last night, had just dropped off into what should have been a deep & dreamy sleep, then... S C R A W P from upstairs!
Thanks whoever you are, hope I can't hear you complain WHEN I crank my music up in the early hours....
Torque (sleepy...n...grouchy..)
what is it with people dragging chairs....even the hotel staff seem not to have been trained to lift a chair for noise and the poor floor finish.
if someone is fasting.. please refrain from offering food...it is well appreciated, but once you're aware that that person is fasting, then don't be an azz every now and then tempting this person to eat or show that you are munching on something..
*dangs my colleague*
[img_assist|nid=12867|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.
... "3. Don't have noisy functions at your home if you live in areas where people are fasting etc..Keep the music down and vistors indoors."
Conversely, people fasting should respect those that are not and don't drag your metal furniture across a tiled floor at 3am - damned upstairs neighbours!!!
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Baldrick - Qatar's answer to Google ;o)
Nic, you are correct in what you are saying but like all societies and countries, time is needed for change and progress. Don't forget how much progress has happened here in such a short period of time! Today's countries titled "developed" took a lot longer to progress timewise in comparison to a place like Qatar. If we were to list progress per decade acheieve in Qatar since 1950, we would be amazed at the leaps and bounds made per decade.
Thanks Torque, I actually didnt know that Dubai was that flexible and relaxed with freedom of choice. No wonder it seems more popular and attractive.
As for Doha or any other place in the world, I am all to respect the local culture but I aslo think that debate should never be banned, it should be stimulated as great ideas that lead to evolution of civilization do come from debate.
..., you have choices of course, abide or not, but I for one don't fancy being in a jail & locked up until after Eid for transgressing local laws....
Then again you can always go to Dubai for a weekend, then it's much more relaxed & cosmopolitan, bars are open after the sun goes down...!
Torque
Submission, compliance and acceptance does not lead to development and progress... nothing wrong with being part of the "educator movement" - that is how societies develop, not by staying in silence!
I belong to where I am and therefore i feel the need to contribute to that particular space!
I am always in Shorts lol no big deal
[img_assist|nid=50852|title=hmm|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]
the shorts is only for d galz or even the guys... i was actually roaming around in shorts in the evenin.. :|
Ha! This I gotta see with all the moralists and expats roaming around this place.
Let the battle begin!
"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach
.., but until that time Qatar is what it is.
true true, but Qatar aims to be cosmopolitan....that means opening up establishments to the masses...like AD, Dubai....why not?
..., paying guests who are resident may have alcohol in their rooms, but not to be consumed elsewhere within the hotel.
Guess the same everywhere in Doha.
Nic, their country, their rules. We are guests having to abide by their laws, whether you judge that to be right or wrong isn't the point, compliance is.
Torque
What’s wrong with sleeveless shirts?
The only thing wrong is in the head of those who judge!!!!!!
So many moralists, judging others instead of focusing on them selves.
I never understood this thing of imposing things on others. As long as we are ok with ourselves, what matters with the others dress?!?!
In a civilized world, respect and acceptance of individuality is crucial to coexist in a healthy society!
People here seem to spend their a lot of time in caring about others’ privacy and judging them, but I still find this society very unfair and extremely aggressive on the roads.
Even in Ramadan, when people supposedly should be more tolerant and spiritual, I can’t see any difference!
I know they don't sell alcohol during Ramadan.
Do they serve it to hotel guests though? for example in the hotel room? Or if someone comes for business won't drink at all?
Kismet
Muslims don't fast when they are sick or have a medicial condition. It is best to ask permission to eat/drink noting that you need to for medical reasons.... Most will say "with pleasure".
I have been told that people with medical conditions are exempt from Ramadan. I was able to go to the ladies' room in order to eat a couple of sugar tablets to avoid a sugar crash today, however, I forget to stash a water bottle in my purse and there was NO water available anywhere at work for me. I have to plan better. And on the bus on the way home from work, I was worried that I needed more sugar, but I was on a bus full of people, some Muslim and some not. I made it home in time to eat, but in an emergency, shall I just explain, apologize, and do what I need to do?
Maggie from Michigan
Hi gypsy.. Iam afraid I can't drink coffee for one month .. the Sweet smell of my cofee will give a temptation to my friends. all are Muslims
And have realized I will be wearing for the whole month as none of my tops or dresses are appropriate...
"Your born, You Live, You Die, given this premise, one can conclude since we have no control over when we are born and when we die, the only thing that matters to us should be how we live, simple really?" Mis-Cat to her philosophy Lecturer.
Agreed mjammille. I see plenty of people dressed inappropriately in the malls. I'd go as far to say some would even be considered inappropriate back in the UK!!!
I think I'm going to go pour myself a second cup of delicious coffee. YUUMMMMMM!
Visit www.qatarhappening.com
however, i still see people wearing them...
Sleeveless tops are generally considered inappropriate in Qatar, whatever time of year.
lol, me dont like rule #1... my sleeveless days are over (for a month, at least) ... :)
Haunted, you are cool with short sleeves and not a goth in all black...lol
Torque ;-)
thx so for advices
happy ramadan
As a newbie to Qatar but not to the Middle East, I really appreciate your list of things to be aware of!
If i were 100% new to the Middle East then I'd be so so surprised at what I could & couldn't do.
I remember that I was in Dubai....
I should also add some other things I learnt of when in Dubai...;
1) Don't pick your nose in public, it's not nice anyway!
2) Don't eat (1) in public, not nice surely???
3) Don't spit in public, not nice anyway....., would you at home???
4) Don't chew your nails..., even if stuck in traffic for hours....
5) Don't eat (4), can't be good for digestion anyway
6) Don't NOT be respectful of others who are fasting!
I hope others will show their appreciation to your most informative post Torc.
From one Torque to another, thanks! 8-)
umless means that nano-second pause in thought while considering other option's feasibility...hee hee
Thank you for this. I was worried about short sleeved shirts (forearm) but it seems it's cool?
It's funny to finally fit in somewhere clothing wise. In this country wearing all black is the norm where birth country tagged me as Goth, Satanist, vampire wannabee. Sorry, rambling.
Anyway thank you.
umless??
No chewing gum either......in daylight hours, umless one has mastered the art of chewing discreetly....
Enjoy drinking water in the loo....so..so inviting....