Iftar

Iftar is the time when Muslims break their daily fast during Ramadan. This year, that time ranges from approx. 6.39pm on the first day to 6.10pm on the last day of the holy month. Many families and friends eat together at eachother's houses, but many others go out to hotels for Iftar meals. Whether you are Muslim or not, the Iftar feast can be a sumptous and delightful experience. I try to have one Iftar meal out each week during Ramadan to share the experience with those who fast, and also to enjoy the great dishes produced at this time of year. The meal consists of a buffet of various types of food, though mostly Arabic fare. In the first week of Ramadan, a couple of friends and I went to the BLD restaurant in the Shangri-La hotel.

We arrived about 5 minutes in advance of the Maghrib prayer, so we had enough time to eye the displays of food before us. They looked fabulous, and throughout the evening they didn't disappoint. There were 3 different types of soup available - vegetable, potato and leek and lentil soup and they looked piping hot and tasty. I skipped the soup as I wanted to have the Arabic mezze to start with - I wasn't disappointed. In addition to the vast array of salads, there were samosas, sambousek, kibbeh, hummous, moutabel and a huge range of seafood. It was delicious.

For the main course, there were many areas to choose from. There was an Indian section with a variety of curries, vegetables and breads, a Moroccan area with tagines, couscous and a wide range of vegetable and lamb dishes, an Arabic section with meatballs, lamb on the bone, bechamel, and many more dishes all as tasty as the next. There was a man at a pizza station who would make any kind of pizza you desired, and another station with kebabs, lamb kofta, lamb chops, salmon pastry and steak. The choice was vast and I'm sure that every tastebud was catered for.

The desert counter was an absolute delight to the eye! There were three chocolate fountains; a white, a milk and a dark chocolate with marshmallows and tiny tea cakes to dip into them until they were completely covered in chocolate and dripped all the way to your plate. There was lots of fresh fruit, ice-cream (in addition to a man making ice-cream pancakes), small cakes and gateaux of all types, and small packets of sweets for the children. Once again there was something for everyone.

When the bill came, it was 169dhs each. Our water with the meal which was included in the price, and we could have had any number of juices throughout the meal. Alcohol is not served until after Iftar time so there was none included in our bill. Not a cheap evening, especially as it finished about 8.30pm, but it was most enjoyable to share the experience with many who were fasting on the day. And of course it was a fabulous buffet!

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!

Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Whether you are a tourist or a resident, a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque is definitely well worth the effort. And the best part - everybody is welcome!

10 years in the making, the marble-clad Sheikh Zayed Mosque is said to be the third largest mosque in the world. Decorated with thousands of rare and semi-precious stones, some encrusted in the marble, it is built on a 9.5 metre hill so it is visible from a distance. It covers an area of 22,000 sq metres and can accommodate about 40,000 worshippers. It was named after the first president of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan who died in 2004 and was buried in the grounds of the mosque.

The main prayer hall hosts the largest dome in the world at 75 metres high with a diameter of just over 32m. The crystal chandelier, also the world's largest, was crafted in Germany, and at 10m tall and 10m wide, weighs a massive 9 tonnes. The centrepiece in the main prayer hall is a 6,000 sq m hand-made Persian carpet of intricate designs on which 9,000 Muslims pray every Friday.

All around the main prayer hall and the mosque grounds there are columns decorated in Mother of Pearl floral patterns - there are over 1,100 columns in all. The domes, many in Moroccan style are decorated with gold leaf and are inscribed with Islamic scripture. There are walls decorated with vividly coloured Turkish tiles, and Chinese and Indian green and white marble structures are dotted around the mosque grounds.

The mosque is beautiful, opulent and stunning, but at the same time there is a feeling of serenity and a calmness that is unexpected with a few hundred visitors and a few hundred more workers still working on the mosque, both inside and out. You could quite easily sit on that huge Persian carpet for hours contemplating life without anyone taking the slightest bit of notice. Of course we visited in the morning before prayer time so it was easy to take our time.

The Abu Dhabi Tourist Authority (ADTA) arranges guided tours every day except Friday and Saturday, and the guides are very informative and happy to answer all questions. Both men and women must remove their shoes before entering the prayer halls (there are lockers to store your shoes), but you can wear socks. Women must cover their hair and be modestly dressed. Abayas and sheylas are provided if you don't have any of your own. Men should wear trousers rather than shorts. Eating and drinking is not allowed in the prayer halls but you are offered cartons of water after the tour has finished. Photographs are allowed in all areas except Sheikh Zayed's tomb.

It is hoped that the mosque will be fully completed by the end of Ramadan 2009. This includes all parking areas, landscaping, an Islamic Studies Centre, a library and ADTA offices.