As hotels and restaurants celebrate the Holy Month with a special selection of dishes for iftar, the time when Muslims break their daily fast, Ramadan evenings around the UAE are alive with a convivial mood. Whether you’re fasting or not, here are Middle East’s recommendations for the greatest iftars in Dubai, which range from three-course set meals to opulent buffets and gorgeous, moody majlises.
Al Shams Bab
Reserve a room at Dubai”s agehold desert resort for a genuinely Arabian experience. The facility is holding a number of events in this Holy month, including an iftar at Al Hadheerah. It reopened last year as the first Rare Finds Inns and Resorts in the world from Kerzner International. The so-called “Arabian theatre” provides live entertainment with a deeply ingrained sense of UAE heritage together with a distinctive outdoor dining experience.
The Palm of Atlantis
The highlight of Atlantis, The Palm’s renowned Asateer Tent, which is erected annually to commemorate Ramadan, is the magnificent skyline vistas. It’s larger than ever in the year,, featuring a fusion buffet for iftar with changing themes every day and traditional décor done in a modern manner. These include Gulf and Turkish cuisines in addition to Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Persian fare, such as Jordanian lamb mansaf, a western carving station, and the area’s popular dessert, kunafa.
World Trade Centre in Dubai
Located on Sheikh Zayed Road, the Dubai World Trade Centre skyscraper hosts one of the biggest and most established Ramadan majlises. In addition to three spaces set aside for iftar and suhoor (the late-evening meal during Ramadan), this expansive area also features prayer rooms and a kid’s play area.
The Jumeirah Seashore Hotel
This wave-shaped hotel in Dubai features a Ramadan Garden with views of the Arabian Gulf and the iconic sail-shaped Burj Al Arab. A qanun and oud player provide live music as you choose from a variety of live cooking stations offering a wide range of cuisine influenced by Middle Eastern rites, In addition, there’s a kids’ play area featuring football, face painting, arts and crafts, and an outdoor movie theatre.
Expo City
During the Holy Month, one of Dubai’s newest suburbs has the busiest schedule in the city. Hai Ramadan is held in the vast area that served as the spot for Expo 2020 Dubai. Witness the cannon firing every evening, an age-old Arab custom that announces iftar with a single shot fired at sunset. Then, take in the main celebrations in Al Wasl Plaza, where kids can participate in workshops, games, and live performances in addition to a series of immersive projections that play all night long. For your evening meal, there’s a lively souq, with 20 restaurants and food carts to pick from, and a special iftar by the Surreal water feature.
Dubai’s Time Out Market
This food emporium, located in Souk Al Bahar, across from The Dubai Mall, has a lot going for it during Ramadan, not the least of which is its prime location with a view of the iconic Dubai Fountain at the foot of the world’s tallest structure, the Burj Khalifa. Popular pizza joint Pitfire, Levantine hangout Liban by Allo Beirut, and Indian staple Masti are just a few of the locally owned eateries that have prepared specially set menus for iftar.
The Pods
For something a little different, The Pods at Bluewater are magnetic to the sights.Here, visitors can reserve private dining pods with views of the Arabian Gulf and spend time with loved ones enjoying an iftar meal in complete seclusion.
