Top 20 Ramadan food festivities
Check out the who, what, where and how much of the region’s most impressive Ramadan F&B promotions – in no particular order…
1. The Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel and Resort is paying tribute to the Holy Month of Ramadan with a range of wholesome activities for friends and family.
The whole resort area has been transformed into a Ramadan village, where the ladies and children can enjoy their favourite oriental beverage while getting their hands accessorised with traditional Henna, the pre-dawn Suhour meal is accompanied by a traditional Oud player, and in the evening guests can relax in the hotel’s air-conditioned Ramadan tents, enjoying snacks and a wide selection of flavoured shisha.
The Iftar buffet offering Arabian cuisine will be served in the hotel’s Arzanah Ballroom, priced at AED 165.
2. This Ramadan, Choices Restaurant at Al Bustan Rotana invites guests to enjoy a spread of traditional Arabic dishes including favourite delicacies such as fattoush, tabouleh, hommos, motabal and a large variety of hot mezze and sweets.
Live cooking stations will add to the fun, along with an Oud musician — all for AED 140 per person.
At the end of the Holy Month, Choices will also hold festivities to mark Eid El Fitr, with a lavish buffet of international and Arabic dishes for only AED 180 per person.
3. JW Marriott Dubai is going all out this year with an indoor Ramadan tent. Aiming to make the fast-breaking Iftar experience “as authentic as possible”, the tent — located in the hotel’s ‘Town Square’ — will feature a lavish buffet spread with live cooking stations and a display teaching guests the art of making Arabic sweets.
Both family-style Arabic seating and normal seating will be available, and guests will be able to enjoy their favourite soap operas on multiple plasma TV screens in tent, or listen to the Oud musicians.
4. The Chef’s House Restaurant at Radisson Blu, Dubai Media City is inviting guests to break their daily fast without breaking the bank, offering a comprehensive traditional Iftar buffet at sundown for just AED 99 per person.
Packages are also available for private or group Iftar bookings.
5. Holiday Inn Dubai — Al Barsha will introduce a new Ramadan concept with the launch of Xennya Terrace.
The roof top Majlis at Xennya Terrace will offer Iftar options in a roof-top setting, while its lobby outlet The Gem Garden will offer an indoor Iftar buffet.
6. Mövenpick Hotel and Resort Al Bida’a Kuwait solves Ramadan banqueting venue problems with its Al Mahara tent, located on the beach with a glass front offering sea views.
Meanwhile the hotel’s Beldani restaurant will be open daily from sunset until midnight offering “a world of seafood” for diners to enjoy.
7. The Wafi Pyramids will offer an Iftar buffet from 8.30pm daily throughout Ramadan at its Iranian restaurant Persia Persia, featuring a traditional menu as well as the option of sitting in the Ramadan tent on the terrace, which boasts air-conditioning, shisha, a plasma screen and “traditional games”.
The Iftar buffet is priced at AED 150 per person and AED 75 per child under 12, with Wafi Select cardholders entitled to a 20% discount.
8. Channels Restaurant at Media Rotana Dubai is offering guests an “ultimate Iftar”, with a Ramadan buffet is for AED 140 per person, inclusive of juices and soft drinks.
Special rates will be applied to group bookings. For guests looking to combine business with pleasure, the hotel also offers Ramadan meeting packages, offering full meeting facilities with three coffee breaks and full Iftar buffet for AED 149 per person.
9. Coral Boutique Villas in Al Barsha is offering guests the opportunity to book a five-star villa for two nights at a cost of AED 4999, enjoy the third night for US $1 and receive a complimentary Iftar for 8 persons.
Alternatively, a group (minimum 10 persons) can enjoy an Iftar for AED 75 per person at one of the property’s villas, while kids up to 12 years old eat for free (maximum three children).
10. Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates’ well-known Sezzam outlet and newly-launched KGrill restaurant will each offer a different Iftar experience: the 1000-seater Sezzam will offer “Dubai’s largest Iftar buffet”, with an Arabic buffet for AED 189 per person including juices, cold and hot drinks, while KGrill will offer a set menu at AED 220 per person.
Alternatively, guests can enjoy their Iftar in a beautifully-constructed majlis and delight in breathtaking views of Ski Dubai with the ‘Grand Ski Chalet Iftar Dining Package’, costing AED 6000 for up to 12 guests.
11. Ewaan restaurant at The Palace, The Old Town will an extensive authentic Arabic buffet in an Arabesque setting with Oud music and a Henna corner. The restaurant will also accommodate traditional private dining alcoves for those wanting privacy.
This experience is priced at AED 180 per person inclusive of Ramadan beverages, and starting from AED 150 for Sohour — an à la carte, inclusive of shisha and drinks.
12. Diwan Al Khayal tent at Jumeirah Beach Hotel can accommodate anything from an intimate family gathering to an event for several hundred guests, with space in either the main dining, corporate dining or majlis areas.
The Iftar buffet, from sunset to 9.30pm, is priced at AED 165 per person.
13. The Monarch Dubai’s Mizaan all-day dining restaurant will host an elaborate Iftar buffet with classic and contemporary Arab dishes, sweets and juices priced at AED 165 per person.
For larger groups (minimum 30 people) Iftar menus starting from AED 165 per person can be enjoyed in the Al Massa ballroom or the Nur Al Ain meeting room overlooking the foyer.
14. THE One’s Abu Dhabi restaurant in its Khalidiya “theatre” will offer an Iftar buffet of home-made Arabic dishes for AED 69 per person, while The Deli in its Jumeirah, Dubai outlet will also offer a selection of Middle East-inspired meals.
15. The Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek is offering a five-star Iftar Ramadan cruise with an Arabic buffet and free-flowing soft drinks on its Al Mansour Dhow (available for private group Iftar bookings only) while entertainment is provided by Oud player, Jemal.
Prices range from AED 120 to 140 per person for a minimum booking of 30.
16. Il Villaggio Restaurants & Lounges in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is offering an Iftar with an Italian twist, with a set menu offering traditional Italian antipasti buffet, a selection of main course and a dessert for SR 105 per person, including Arabic Coffee, dates, water and one bottled beverage.
Children up to 12 years old can enjoy pizza and ice-cream for free.
17. Azur, the all-day dining at Raffles Dubai, is offering Iftar for AED 155 all inclusive, which guests can enjoy in an intimate setting overlooking the Raffles Botanical Garden, with a choice of indoor and outdoor dining areas.
18. Hotel JAL Fujairah Resort and Spa will be inviting guests to enjoy Iftar in its Layaly JAL beach-front tent for AED 99 per person.
The tent will serve a daily Iftar buffet as well as a variety of cold and hot beverages, traditional sweets and shisha, with a traditional Oud player to serenade the diners.
19. The Cairo Marriott Hotel will be offering authentic Iftar and Sohour buffets at Omar’s Café, as well as in its Egyptian Nights outlet located in the gardens, offering popular Egyptian food plates, Shisha and live Takht.
The property will also provide ‘Almaz’ (open-air cinema) so guests can enjoy their favourite Ramadan TV shows and Arabic movies along with live Takht performances, as they overlook the Nile.
20. Doha’s Sharq Village and Spa will mark Ramadan with the Seher Al Sharq tent, offering an authentic Arabian experience.
The property’s ballroom will feature private majlis seating, flavoured Shisha, and live entertainment. Comfortably accommodating up to 188 guests seated in traditional majlis settings, guests may look forward to a buffet including carving stations and over 45 different dishes from the region.
Corporate hosts wishing to uphold the Arabic traditions of hospitality can hold private Iftar events with bespoke menus served in the Al Sonbok ballroom.