Spirit of togetherness at Ramadan tents

Dubai: Tents mirror an essential aspect of the UAE daily life during Ramadan. The tents are not a new social activity to the UAE community. They have existed throughout the history of the country.

In the olden days, they were set up by the neighbourhood ‘Freej' members and were established, simple and furnished with a modest means of hospitality. During Ramadan they welcomed the men only.

The expense of the tent however was not limited to one person — it was a financial and social cooperation and commitment between the men of the Freej.

The tents were set up to enhance the charming ambience of Ramadan and it was an opportunity for old and young men to get together so they could practice activities such as chatting, playing cards, and exchanging views on various topics such as social, economical and political issues.

There was also the narration of ghost stories that were usually told by old people, which would attract a large number of youngsters who would listen attentively.

Regular lectures

Not only that, some religious mentors would visit the tent and provide regular lectures to the attendees.

Food, coffee and tea would be served sent frequently by the wives of the tents' founders. Sometimes the habit was to have iftar at home but head to the tents after Taraweeh prayer. (Taraweeh is an essential prayer in Ramadan, held after Isha prayer the fifth prayer of the day.) And sometimes people would prefer to have their iftar at the tents. The habit varies until today.

To keep up with the rapid development of the UAE, the Ramadan tents have gradually adopted a very contemporary style.

Previously they would have an individual look, but nowadays they are more uniform commercial affairs, run with a huge budget by shopping malls, international hotels and restaurants with affordable prices to make the atmosphere of Ramadan an unforgettable experience.

No restrictions

The Ramadan tents in their up-to-the-minute styles are largely seen in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the emirates, and they are no longer restricted to men only.

On the contrary, today's tents welcome families and ladies and allow people to socialise, have a good time, and drink tea, coffee and eat the traditional food of the country, such as dates and Logimat, presented with Arabic coffee.

There are also the rich menus of the cosmopolitan cuisines and the delicious dishes served at iftar and suhoor, the last meal of the day before fasting.

The modern tents are fantastically equipped, with amenities such as air-conditioning and comfortable seating.

They usually start at iftar and remain open until suhoor.