TheShed

I have lived here for more years than I care to mention, but in every previous Ramadan the bars have been dry until after sunset.

Yesterday a mate told me that many of the five star hotels on the beach are serving food and booze, even outside on the beach from noon onwards. I didn't believe him, but its true.

Last night I went out to two bars after sunset and found that both of them had been serving beer since 4pm!!

Not sure if i'm making to much of it, but seems a phonomenal shift from years gone by. Chatting to one of the bar managers last night and he told me that they did not even get informed about the change until lunchtime on the first day of Ramadan.

Anyone know whats going on??

iggle

Alcohol stores are open as normal in Abu Dhabi

TheShed

Have they remained open in previous Ramadans?

iggle

I have only done one Ramadan, last year i remember the opening times were restricted.

Even the manager said to me 3 days ago, "Mr Iggles, its not like years of the past, things have progressed". My local is open from 10am - 8:30pm. I can upload a photo if required

DXBtoDOH

McG in JLT is open from noon, apparently.

Yeah. It's weird. I don't know if I like it. Although if they started allowing people to drink in Starbucks instead of taking it away I won't be complaining.

It comes down to tourism more than anything else. Each year Ramadan gets closer to the prime tourist season and think carefully what that means.

flood2

Irish Village tweeted that opening hours were normal during Ramadan! I live in AD so cannot verify.

Also the WTC mall has recently had alcohol introduced into one of the food courts and branded it as the hub with no required hotel attached as far as I am aware.

Interesting indeed

OriginalSunshine

Football revenue

flood2

I think all the Euro games will kick off after the time for breaking the fast so these would not be impacted

Irishbeekeeper

Well I haven't been here long enough at all, only my 5th year, but in the past atleast 4 years, the watering holes I know of around me (bur dubai) have always been open but they aren't allowed to sell to Muslims. I asked once how can you tell who isn't Muslim and one guy at a bar said we ask for ID. Although I think that rule isn't applied too vigorously and even less now reference the revenue thing which makes a lot of sense I guess.

NorthernLad

England v Wales is 5pm on Thursday, so I'm not complaining.

Just been talking to bar a manager, he said they need the tourism.

co durham boy

I'm quite surprised at this but it is true , places are serving early and advertising as well that they're open .

Profit before Prophet as they say .

jam25mack

That's meant to be the norm, not just during Ramadan. Its also illegal for locals to be in National Dress in a bar, however, none of them care tho.

As for wheres open, so far I know (I have checked) that the Dhow and Anchor, McGets in JLT and Harvesters in CP are all open and serving from 12.

I think this is massively linked to the Euro's. They lost a huge amount during the last World Cup due to the Ramadan cross over.

Awesome news!

al dente

There is a hotel at the WTC though, somewhere, isn't there. I was there on Wednesday but they didn't set the bar up until 8.20 and only started serving booze at 8.30. It was quite busy, and a whole bunch had turned up at 8 so it got a bit antsy. They are new so probably just going the extra careful mile.

Good restaurants BTW. Saw the Maitre D from Zuma, checking Tamba out, so they must be doing well.

mission

They can be in a bar, they just can't be standing at the bar counter getting served/ordering booze....but if they are sat at a table with waiter service, then its ok.

DXBtoDOH

Tell that to the locals at certain bars around Dubai. They clearly missed the memo