How UAE is easing rules on public eating during Ramadan

  DUBAI – Restaurants at malls in Abu Dhabi have been able to let customers eat in public view during Ramadan fasting hours in the latest sign that the UAE is further relaxing its rules on the matter. When contacted by Expatmedia.net, the Abu Dhabi Mall confirmed that “all malls in Abu Dhabi have been requested to remove their partitions and curtains by the authorities”. The mall issued a circular to customers recently to inform them about the new directive. “We are now in a situation where food and beverages are openly being served in public,” the mall’s own circular states. “This is supposed to apply to all malls.” According to the mall, the decision applies to all restaurants and coffee shops in Abu Dhabi. Previously, restaurants and cafes were required to cover windows or their premises with screens or partitions to keep the eating public out of view. Yas Mall and Abu Dhabi Mall restaurants started complying with the new ruling and tore down screens and partitions as of Tuesday. It is not clear whether Dubai will also follow Abu Dhabi's lead. Currently, Dubai-based eateries are allowed to serve food during Ramadan fasting hours, but in sections that have been closed off from public view. Fast food chains such as Chicking are also open for those who want to dine in during Ramadan fasting hours, while it is business as usual in food courts at malls. Food outlets in hotels, such as Zuri and Go in Treppan Hotel & Suites by Fakhruddin, are also open to diners throughout the day. In the last few years, restaurants and coffee shops in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and parts of the UAE have been serving food during Ramadan fasting hours, however, customers are served in areas that have been screened off or partitioned. This was a departure from practices about a decade ago where restaurants and eateries were forced to close during Ramadan fasting hours. "I remember it was very difficult to go out and about in daytime during Ramadan because you can't drink or eat. All restaurants were closed. I know of some friends who had to lock themselves in the washroom just to sneak in a drink or a bite to eat because they feared they might be fined," said a Filipino expatriate who has been in Dubai since 2001. "I was happy when a few years ago the malls started serving food in the food courts. It was a very thoughtful move in favour of non-fasting customers." Despite the current practice, a federal law still exists that prohibits anyone from eating and drinking in public during Ramadan, although this law does not appear to be strictly enforced. ICA/Expat 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