Ramadan

Ramadan is here and it's a time I have always loved in the UAE. It's a time of fasting for Muslims, of prayer, of giving, and a time when most people are more in tune with their spiritual side. People are more peaceful and calm (in general), work days are shorter, shops open much later and I have more time to meet friends in the evening for coffee or a meal.

However, it is also a time when there are more accidents on the road due to lack of concentration and tiredness. Many people wake in the morning for Suhoor, the early breakfast before the Emsaak prayer. This year it is as early as 4.30am. After eating they pray, and often do not return to sleep until later in the day when they have finished work. This inevitably causes poorer concentration and less alert drivers. As the day progresses, the driving deteriorates. This is not helped by the fact that most offices, schools and other workplaces finish within a couple of hours of eachother, therefore adding to the already congested streets of Abu Dhabi. Drawing closer to the Maghrib prayer and Iftar time (breaking of the fast) many people are rushing home to break their fast with family or friends.

Sitting in traffic on the way home from work, it is easy to get frustrated and annoyed with other drivers trying to edge into my lane or take a left turn from my right etc. However, if people who fast all day can keep their patience and stay calm, then so should I. As the sun sets on another day in Abu Dhabi, I resolve to keep my aggression for the 'after dark' drivers!

Ramadan Kareem!