Long before skylines rose from the desert and modern roads stitched the Peninsula together, the night sky offered a kind of certainty. Travellers moving east to west read their way by the stars - constellations used as reference points, the moon as a steady marker in a landscape where landmarks were few. Over centuries, that attention to the sky found its way into Arabic poetry and art, and into practical disciplines such as navigation and geometry. 

Its imprint remains.  The Islamic calendar is lunar and in many communities each month begins with the sighting of a new crescent. Months run for 29 or 30 days, until the next crescent is seen by local sighting. Ramadan follows this cadence - a period defined by observation rather than fixed dates.

Across the region, the month is widely understood as a time of restraint and consideration – an interval that encourages people to set aside space to step back from routine and reassess habits, priorities, and responsibilities toward others. The daylight hours are structured by fasting, while evenings make room for gathering. To gather was to honour both hunger and hope, to remember that generosity is where belonging begins.

The Sacred Fasting

From dawn until dusk, fasting defines the daylight hours of Ramadan. Abstaining from food and drink is central to the month, but its purpose extends beyond physical restraint. It is understood as a practice of discipline and awareness, encouraging attention to patience, accountability, and a more deliberate approach to daily conduct. 

For many, the experience also sharpens empathy. Sharing hunger and thirst, even briefly, brings greater awareness of those for whom scarcity is a daily reality. As a result, the season is often accompanied by charitable activity and acts of support often increase during the month, reinforcing a link between individual reflection and collective care.

Daily life adjusts accordingly. Schedules slow, energy is conserved, and attention shifts inward - towards one’s inner self - before turning outward to the evening ahead.

The Gathering at Sunset

As daylight fades, kitchens come back into use, tables are set, and households prepare for the moment when the fast ends. Across homes and communities, a shared hour is observed.

That moment is Iftar - the meal that marks the close of the daily fast. It traditionally begins with dates and water, before continuing at a measured pace. Food is served in stages, allowing room for conversation and reconnection after the disciplines of the day. 

Ramadan tables often lean toward sustenance and familiarity. In the Gulf, dishes such as harees, a wheat and meat dish cooked slowly to a smooth, porridge-like consistency, and thareed, where bread absorbs a long-simmered stew, are closely associated with the season. Later, sweets such as luqaimat - finished with date syrup - bring the meal to a close.

After the meal, time is often spent in the majlis. Long established within Arabian culture, the majlis is a space set aside for receiving guests and social exchange, used throughout the year for conversation and welcome. During Ramadan, the majlis becomes an especially natural extension of the evening, as families and friends remain together, sharing Arabic coffee surrounded by the smell of traditional bukhoor.

Within Jumeirah’s Middle Eastern destinations, Ramadan is approached as a time to slow the tempo and make room for togetherness. This tradition is reflected in majlis-style rooms, courtyards, and garden settings designed to encourage unhurried evenings and shared tables. The spirit is reflected in venues that pair indoor comfort with open-air options, allowing guests to move between shaded spaces and the night sky. Where locations look out across the Arabian Gulf, the setting itself becomes part of the experience: a calm backdrop for Iftar, and later for Suhoor - the pre-dawn meal that helps prepare for the fast ahead.

Menus during the month, typically draw on regional Ramadan favourites while accommodating a range of tastes. They begin with soups – often lentil or vegetable – followed by cold mezze such as hummus, tabouleh, and fattoush. Warm appetisers can include sambousek and falafel; alongside main grills and slow-cooked dishes such as lamb ouzi with rice and nuts. Following later, classics such as kunafa, a traditional dessert of crisp pastry and soft cheese, soaked in a fragrant syrup and served warm is enjoyed.

A Month of Reflection

From the first sighting of the crescent moon to its return at month’s end, Ramadan is sustained by moments repeated night after night. It is found in the discipline of the day and the generosity of the evening; in meals prepared to be passed between hands; and in time given freely to those who matter most.

Within Jumeirah’s destinations, the season is marked with care - through places designed for pause and menus created for the occasion. Throughout the holy month of Ramadan, guests are invited to share in the experience beneath the night sky, guided by the same moon.