Her challenge is to be engaging

Dubai: One may be excused for thinking that office workers find fasting during Ramadan a little easier than the man on the street. While the office air-conditioning helps escape the desert elements, those fasting Muslims who work in an office environment face some difficulties of their own.

"Fasting is very difficult, unfortunately," says Syeda Maheen Jafri, a Pakistani personal banking adviser. "It's very difficult to talk and not be able to eat and drink. I talk continuously for six hours with no pause, and no water to drink. Also in Ramadan people seem to call non-stop."

She emphasises that it is thirst that is the main villain. "The thing about fasting in Dubai is thirst," aggravated by the task of having to converse with customers for 20-minute intervals, answering their varying and often numerous questions, leaving the mouth feeling dry.

Syeda feels that perhaps having a less vocal, more physical job would make her Ramadan days easier.

Syeda, however, has comfort in knowing that a majority of her co-workers are Muslim, with the rest being very respectful in making sure to eat in the staff canteen. "The fasting workers, Indians, Arabs and Pakistani, are all very much together."

Dealing with stress

Working in Dubai allows fasting Muslims the benefit of seeing their hours shortened, as is the case with Syeda whose work day is shortened from eight hours to six hours. She also works on the morning shift, from 7.30am to 1pm. Leaving home early means she often chooses to forgo the pre-dawn meal, suhour. Many Muslims find this meal essential in preparing them for the fasting day, and those who miss it often feel the day stretching on and on.

Though the hours may be shorter, the workload effectively remains the same, Syeda reckons. She says she finds herself having to deal with the same levels of stress, while having to get more work done in less time. "There is still the same amount of pressure," she explained. Having to deal with the fast pace of office life while fasting puts into perspective how that cup of coffee or glass of water really is a welcome relief during the day.

Syeda feels extremely tired by the time she returns home, having to rest to catch up on missed sleep. "Ramadan somehow manages to make you feel extremely tired and very sleepy."

Despite the difficulty, when asked whether she enjoyed Ramadan in Dubai she said "I love it here, it's great."

The shorter hours enable her to be home to cook iftar for her parents and family, something she appreciates immensely. "I prefer iftar at home because you can relax a lot and socialise with family and friends."