Ramadan in Saudi Arabia: Why expats love to celebrate in the ‘homeland of Islam'
'The expats spending the holy month in the homeland of Islam are fortunate, both in terms of spiritual satisfaction and piousness as well as personal experiences, and for those who are new to the Kingdom, there is a lot to look forward to for a whole new experience,' said Nafisa Usmani, an Indian homemaker who has lived in Riyadh for more than two decades.
'You can sense the Ramadan vibes here everywhere you go. The streets at night during Ramadan are packed and everything that is dull during the day comes to life in the night,' she added.
Ramadan in Saudi Arabia has become a model of brotherhood that transcends borders and nationalities, with increased gatherings among families and friends in homes. (SPA/Supplied)
'I can say from my decades of experience here that there is no other place better than Saudi Arabia to spend time in Ramadan and celebrate its spirit including the opportunity to go to the mosque and do group Taraweeh prayers,' Usmani said.
'Ramadan is a time of great significance for Muslims and it is observed with great importance in Saudi Arabia. You also have the opportunity to go to the two holy cities — Makkah and Madinah — and perform Umrah and Ziyarah during the holy month while staying here,' she added.
Echoing the sentiments, Lebanese expat Farah Fouad said that she is very excited to celebrate yet another Ramadan in Saudi Arabia due to the special significance of the holy month in the Kingdom.
I can say from my decades of experience here that there is no other place better than Saudi Arabia to spend time in Ramadan and celebrate its spirit.
Nafisa Usmani, Indian homemaker
'Being in the heartland of Islam you can sense the Ramadan spirit here everywhere you go,' she added.
Iffat Aabroo, another Indian homemaker in Riyadh, said: 'It's very nice to spend Ramadan here. Markets are open until suhoor, there is the crowd bustling in the streets keeping the night alive and those that are shopping to prepare themselves for the Eid Al-Fitr festival.
Ramadan in Saudi Arabia has become a model of brotherhood that transcends borders and nationalities, with increased gatherings among families and friends in homes. (SPA/Supplied)
'Hotels make elaborate Ramadan tent arrangements, both delicacies as well as decorations.'
She added that Ramadan is not just a religious observance, but also a cultural phenomenon, reflected by acts of spirituality and social bonding.
Sharing her experience, Ambreen Faiz, a Pakistani writer living in Yanbu, told Arab News: 'I have been living in Saudi Arabia for the past 27 years.
'When I first arrived in Riyadh in 1998, I was sort of mesmerized witnessing the festivities of the holy month of Ramadan in the Kingdom. Every Muslim anxiously waits for the advent of the holy month of Ramadan.'
She added: 'Many women that I know of from Pakistan become as excited as I do when the holy month arrives. We do not want to go for vacation during Ramadan and in fact want to stay in the Kingdom to welcome Ramadan and enjoy the festivities that it brings along.
'We women friends chalk out our programs of iftar parties. And we prepare Pakistani delicacies of Ramadan — chole, pakore, samose, dahi barey, fruit chaat and whatnot. Such delicacies are liked and enjoyed by all ages,' she said.
'Ramadan is very much enjoyed by the kids especially when we go to Haramain to perform Umrah,' Faiz said, adding: 'I am thankful to Allah that he has blessed us with the opportunity to live in Saudi Arabia and enjoy the festivities of Ramadan.
'Ramadan in Saudi Arabia is way better than it is in the sub-continent or any other country,' said Mohammed Naeem, a Pakistani expatriate.
'I always prefer spending Ramadan here because everything is so smooth and there is so much dedication to the almighty Allah during Ramadan. People actually know the true value of the holy month and they act accordingly here.'
Ramadan for many expatriates is often marked by a mix of traditions from home and the Kingdom.
Ifthikar Ansari, a Sri Lankan working in the Eastern Province, told Arab News: 'We love staying here during Ramadan and enjoy a mix of Sri Lankan and Saudi delicacies.
'In Sri Lanka, where a significant percentage of the population observes fasting during the sacred month of Ramadan, their iftar meals are characterized by a special blend of flavors and traditions.
'A customary dish on their iftar table is a porridge made with rice and coconut, often complemented by the addition of beef or chicken, along with a spicy chili chutney.
'Bringing it to our iftar table here with dates, an essential component of an iftar meal, and some Saudi delicacies are a routine thing, and the iftar spread is further enriched with other delicacies such as cutlets, and patties,' he added.
'To quench the thirst, tropical fruit juices featuring wood apple, pineapple and king coconut are favored choices, ensuring a healthy and refreshing conclusion to the day of fasting,' Ansari said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leaders
2 days ago
- Leaders
Mawani Adds MSC's ‘North India to Middle East' Shipping Service at King Abdulaziz Port
The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has announced the launch of MSC's new North India to Middle East shipping service at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, strengthening the Kingdom's position as a leading regional and global logistics hub. The service links King Abdulaziz Port with the Indian ports of Mundra, Nhava Sheva, and Hazira, as well as Sohar in Oman and Abu Dhabi in the UAE, with a handling capacity of up to 4,000 TEUs. This initiative is part of Mawani's ongoing efforts to enhance Saudi Arabia's global performance indicators and improve operational efficiency at King Abdulaziz Port. It also supports the movement of national exports in line with the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which seeks to establish the Kingdom as a vital trade gateway connecting three continents. Moreover, King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam is a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's integration with the global economy. Equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, 43 berths, and advanced logistics facilities, the port boasts a total handling capacity of 105 million tons. This makes it an attractive hub for major international companies. Related Topics : Mawani Adds 'MXS1' Shipping Service of 'Silmar Group' Company to Jeddah Port 'Milaha Gulf Express 2': Mawani Announces New Shipping Service Affairs of Two Holy Mosques Launches Tawaf, Sa'i Travel Experience AlUla Wins Best Sustainable Pavilion Award at Arabian Travel Market 2024 Short link : Post Views: 126 Related Stories
Arab News
6 days ago
- Arab News
Bayada Island is a tranquil, hidden gem in the Red Sea
RIYADH: Bayada Island, a 40-minute drive from Jeddah, is known for its crystal-clear turquoise waters, colorful coral reefs, and peaceful atmosphere reminiscent of the Maldives. Bayada appears to float in the sea, free of surrounding landmass and vegetation, offering an immersive experience. Its coral reefs are among the most stunning underwater ecosystems in the Red Sea, attracting divers and snorkelers from around the world. They are home to vibrant marine life, including tropical fish, and even larger species such as turtles and reef sharks. Albara Bawazir, a scuba-diving instructor, told Arab News: 'It is one of the most popular areas in Jeddah for sea lovers. Visitors enjoy it as a place combining recreational and sea water activities.' The island is about 700 meters in length, with shallow surrounding waters, making it ideal for diving, swimming, kayaking, water skiing, and boat excursions. 'The average depth of 4 meters gives you the ease of swimming and enjoying the seashore. As an adventurer I recommend Bayada for families and people who are not used to the open water activities,' Bawazir added. In recent years, the island has had growing interest from both domestic and international tourists, accompanied by an increase in organized boat trips. This rise in popularity has been matched by expanding services and a defined regulatory framework for coastal tourism led by the Saudi Red Sea Authority. Private-sector service providers and local entrepreneurs play an active role in boosting tourism on the island, offering marine adventures and recreational experiences that contribute to diversifying the local economy and creating seasonal jobs. Bayada is under continuous environmental monitoring by the authorities to ensure the protection of its marine ecosystem, safeguard its coral reefs, and preserve biodiversity. Abdullah Al-Otaibi, a local, told Arab News he enjoys holidaying on the island. 'Bayada is a perfect example of balancing leisure and environmental preservation, offering an unforgettable experience for sea lovers seeking serene isolation or active adventure in one of the Red Sea's most breathtaking locations.' The island offers a variety of activities for visitors, including six-hour boat trips to explore the island, swim, dive, snorkel and fish.
Arab News
14-08-2025
- Arab News
My Melbourne: Saudi student Leen Asiri on life in Australia
RIYADH: Leen Asiri is a 20-year-old student, currently reading politics at the University of Melbourne as a beneficiary of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ What's the best thing about Melbourne? The lifestyle. You're busy 24/7, literally. You don't have time to be bored. It's a great city to improve yourself and look for a better future, in my opinion. Also, it's a really walkable city, which I love. And the worst thing? As much as it's a safe city, it's sometimes not. When I first came here, I was out with my friends — Arab girls — and we were at a stoplight, and this homeless guy just started screaming at us. 'Go back to your country!' It was a very traumatizing experience. So that proved to me that, no matter how safe a country is, it doesn't compare to how safe Saudi is, in my opinion. I wouldn't advise being out on the streets here — as a young female — after 10 p.m. What's the general vibe there? It's hectic — everyone's busy with something: their career, uni, whatever… no one's free for anything. But it's also laid back during the weekends — everything just calms down. Weekends are really sacred here. Like, you cannot ask someone to email you on a weekend. That's taboo. Like all of Australia, really, Melbourne has so many people bringing their culture here. Like, you can see Chinese food places all over the place, Arabic food places, French food. It's just a lot of different cultures mixed in a blender — that's basically Melbourne. Would you say it's a good place to travel to with kids? I'd say it's family-friendly, but I don't think there's a lot of entertainment. I don't think kids would have that much fun here. Melbourne is really just a university area. I think Sydney would be more suitable for family fun. Would you describe Melbourne as ethnically diverse? Yes, very. The locals are very welcoming of every ethnicity, every culture. As soon as they hear you're Saudi, they're like, 'Oh my god, we hear about it all over the news, but we never actually see people from there.' It's very welcoming. There are a lot of Islamic societies, Saudi societies, and also the Saudi Cultural Bureau really helps out. They often have events, which is really helpful with homesickness and loneliness. Are the residents as friendly in general? They're friendly if you approach them, but they don't usually approach international students. I do feel like there's some kind of discrimination, but I don't want to be judge-y. It's like, 'We hang out with each other. You're international students. You're chill, but we wouldn't vibe with you.' It's kind of an unwritten rule. But not all of them are like that. Is it an easy place for Muslims to practice their religion? I wouldn't really say it's 'easy.' I have to go a long way to find halal food. Otherwise, I'm just stuck with Indomie (instant noodles), basically. Or cheese sandwiches. There are mosques, but they're not widely publicized — just word of mouth. But they have a mosque in the university, which is really great. And in some of the buildings, they have small areas they call quiet rooms, where you can go and pray. What's the best time of year to visit, in terms of the weather? Winters are super-cold, summers are super-hot. I wouldn't say as hot as Saudi, but it's close. So, I'd say the best time of year would be the end of May into June. That's basically autumn. The vibes are amazing. It's so enjoyable. It starts to get cold at the end of June. Then it's basically winter from August until just before December. What would you do on your ideal weekend in your city? I'd go to the local farmers' market — the Queen Victoria Market. The vibes there are amazing. It's so nice. You find food, fresh veggies, fresh fruits and some clothing stands and accessories and gifts… stuff like that. It's not a tourist area; you go there for calm vibes, eating, drinking coffee, and sightseeing. That's basically what I might do during my weekend. Where would you go sightseeing? I'd go to the parks: the local parks are so beautiful. Other than that, I'd go 30 minutes away from the city to the nearest beach, St. Kilda. It's absolutely gorgeous. The beaches here are the best. When I want to get away from all the chaos and noise, I just run away to whatever beach, and it calms me down. Which famous tourist attraction would you recommend people visit? Apart from St. Kilda, I'd say the Queen Victoria Library (State Library Victoria), which is a famous old library with so much about Australian history and literature. It's so big. And Melbourne Central, which is the most famous mall in Melbourne. I'd also recommend some outlets for saving money, which are really nice, like Spencer Outlet and DFO. What's your city's best hidden gem? There are two streets. One is called Flinders Street. It's near the biggest train station. It has a lot of good cafés and good food places. The other is Little Bourke Street. It's the same idea. Again, a lot of good cafés, and some really beautiful street art. What's your favorite restaurant in the city? Zambrero. I could eat there every day. It's a healthy Mexican fast food place. It's really difficult to find healthy food as a student, because you just want something fast and cheap. Zambrero is literally that — fast, healthy and cheap. I love it so much. What's your favorite store in the city? I go to Kmart. It's like Abu Khamsa (in Saudi. It's cheap, in Australian terms. It has everything and anything. I love it. Any other places you'd recommend to visitors? Yo-Chi. It's this really popular self-serve frozen-yogurt place. It's so good. I love it so much. The vibe is amazing. They're really welcoming. What's the best hotel in the city? People are really big on Airbnbs. To be honest, I'm not built for Airbnbs, but I've been in the Hilton DoubleTree over here, and it's really nice. I would recommend it. Which neighborhood would you recommend people look for accommodation in? Carlton. It's a very Italian-oriented neighborhood with a lot of good food places. And it's really safe compared to other areas. It's on the outskirts of the city, but not far. And it's really close to most of the universities. Where do you go when you're feeling homesick or nostalgic for Saudi Arabia? To be honest, nothing gives off the vibe of home. Nothing is similar to Saudi in Australia. It's like the polar opposite. So, this is kind of a weird answer, but I'd say this coffee shop called Brunetti. It's basically an Arab hot spot, and I think you'd find Saudis there. So maybe, if you're an extrovert, you can socialize with people from back home over there.
