São Paulo – Ramadan requires a series of changes in different sectors of Muslim-majority countries. But the Islamic holy month that starts Thursday (23) also lifts businesses like restaurants and hotels. The period is accompanied by a fasting from dawn to sunset and push most social interactions to the night. To follow these changes, the service and hospitality industry adapts and finds new ways to work.
According to data platform Statista, 68% of the Muslims plan on spending money in restaurants or takeouts during Ramadan. These are the habits that hotels like the Nile Ritz-Carlton in Cairo are looking at. “As you walk in the hotel you can inhale the vibes of the holy month through vibrant decorations and a warm inviting setting, not to mention the intuitive service and genuine sense of hospitality our team presents during every interaction. It really reflects the warmth and the spirit of the month and the class of our brand,” Joe Ghayad, general manager of The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo, told ANBA.
The hotel is part of the Ritz-Carlton chain and launces special Ramadan menus in its restaurants. One of them is Iftar, the fast-breaking meal, in the Culina restaurant, with a buffet of gourmet Arab and international dishes. “The restaurant has both an indoor and outdoor seating area with Arabic tunes playing in the background and the sun magically setting with the Egyptian museum in sight. You can also enjoy there a selection of refreshing Ramadan drinks and flavorsome Shish,” the manager said.
In addition to lanterns and decorations, the hotel offers musical attractions, as well as delicacies, coffee and tea served in the Lobby Lounge. And in restaurants like Bab El Sharq the focus is Suhour, the pre-dawn meal.
Ghayad points out that as Ramadan approaches, restaurants are filled with guests over Iftar and Suhour. “We are delighted to see people gathering on long stretched tables to celebrate all together with us. We feel so special to be a part of their Ramadan gatherings and having them create such memories with us. Not to mention the wide range of corporate events we host both indoor and outdoor for various industries,” he explained.
In Morocco, venues like the Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca also have a special program. In addition to offering suite options with luxury stays during Ramadan, the hotel serves Iftar in one of its restaurants and an extra program. Besides the buffet at live culinary stations, the venue will also feature traditional music performance and a special “After-ftour” experience on its heated terrace. The activity includes board games, cigars and refreshments that will be offered to guests in dedicated lounge spaces for an experience with friends or family.
Coffeehouses
Coffeehouses in Dubai, like some units of the The Açaí Spot chain, must outline strategies based on the area where they are based. That’s because the city has a large presence of foreigners and tourists, which impacts the demand in some regions.
Therefore, The Açaí Spot is one of the venues that choose to operate from the early-morning hours to midnight, a work schedule reinforced to supply the demand in rush hours. “In tourist areas, the morning shift tends to be the busiest, while in less tourist areas, most employees are designated to the night period. It’s also typical that restaurants in Dubai operate until later during Ramadan to cater to those who had been fasting during the day and tend to be more active at night,” Brazil’s Marcio Saboya, the brand’s founder, explained.
Saboya adds that there are some rules to be followed in the emirate, such as the reduction of the workload by at least two hours. The shop was created by the Brazilian entrepreneur in the United Arab Emirates in 2015 and has been present in Kuwait since 2020. “Over this month, we seek to offer special menus and combos. Traditionally we offer our açaí bowl with dates to break the fast,” he said.
The businessman explained there’re differences between the two counties. The UAE has relaxed some of the rules, and now you can serve meals in your establishments without the need for special permits, while in Kuwait the holy month is more strictly followed, and shops can only make deliveries. “It’s noteworthy that since Kuwait is not a popular tourist destination, most deliveries are to foreigners living in the country,” he said.
Holy month festivals
The service sectors also see the creation of festivals especially created for Ramadan. The Expo City Dubai, for instance, is hosting Hai Ramadan. The festival started on March 3 and runs until April 25. According to the organizers, it takes visitors on a cultural journey through the Islamic world, including iftars, corporate suhours and a communal table.
The corporate iftar takes place in the Surreal venue, hosted by Address Hotels. In addition to the buffet and live cooking stations, visitors get to dine below a waterfall, where there’ll be a show with synchronized music. Groups of diners can enjoy a sharing-style menu at the Mobility District’s communal table featuring dishes from world-leading chefs from Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.
Another festival is the 33rd Sharjah Ramadan Festival, which runs until April 25, in various cities of the emirate. Held under the theme “Ramadan: Together We Make It More Memorable,” this year’s edition features a variety of activities for residents and visitors. Its organizer, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, says this has become a key social and economic event that drives both local trade and hotel industry.
And Qatar Tourism Authority created in its website a schedule with Ramadan-related events. Offers include staycations and meals in local restaurants. The country is also holding events like a festival and a fair to celebrate the month.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
