It’s another Ramadan night in Sharjah, where the loudspeakers of the famous Al Noor Mosque fill the air over Buhairah Corniche.
As soon as the prayers end, there’s a flurry of activity — worshippers stream out of the huge mosque, cars rush to exit the parking lot and families walk along the lagoon.
It’s a sharp contrast to the day, when the level of activity is much less.
Every Ramadan the corniche draws more people at night than usual.
People have rested, broken their fast and offered their night prayers and it’s time to seek out the expanse of the U-shaped waterfront.
There is an abundance of greenery, open spaces, restaurants, and a nice walkway straddling the water. An entire melting pot of people and nationalities can be seen here.
A medley of languages can be heard — Arabic, Hindi, Filipino, English, Pashto.
“We love coming here and walking together as a family, chatting away,” said Rizwan Ahmad from Pakistan. His family, along with the family of his elder brother and brother-in-law, are a close-knit group who often meet up at his or their homes, and also visit the corniche together.
“Ramadan is about family time. It’s about sharing — your time, food, moments. So coming here and enjoying the surroundings and walking and talking together is a nice way to combine that.”
His brother-in-law, Mohammad Usman, said: “We don’t go to malls so much, the outdoors seem to be more reflective of Ramadan; seeing all these people here who have gathered to socialise and relax. At home, we often stay up the whole night and have suhour together.”
For Khalid Ahmad, 35, an expat from India, spending Ramadan in Sharjah is dearer than going home for holiday.
“It just so happens that my annual vacation falls around Ramadan time, but I advance or postpone it so that I can experience the holy month here," said Ahmad
"The mosques and malls here are so nice; you get the spiritual ambience and there are plenty of leisure options too that are open till almost dawn,” Ahmad added.
