Hotels gear up for Ramadan nights with special tents

A Ramadan tent at one of the Jeddah hotels all set to welcome guests. (AN photo)

By DIANA AL-JASSEM | ARAB NEWS

JEDDAH: Hotels across the Kingdom have geared up for Ramadan by setting up special Ramadan tents where diners can go and break their fasts. Ramadan tents — a very popular concept in Cairo, Beirut and Damascus — are a new phenomena in the Kingdom.

“We’re trying our best to benefit from this month. Several programs are being launched to attract as many people as possible, both guests and people off the street,” said Ghada Alam Dar, director of marketing and public relations at Jeddah’s Hilton Hotel.

“The minimum entrance fee is SR175 per person. People can enjoy iftar with their families, relatives and friends, and socialize with other people from different nationalities at our Ramadan tents, ” she added.

According to Alam Dar, Ramadan tents — which offer open buffets and have television screens showing the latest Ramadan soaps and series — are very popular among Saudi families.

“Sharing iftars in hotels is widely popular among Saudi families and expatriates in Jeddah. This has encouraged us to come up with a special iftar buffet at our Qasr Al-Sharq Hall, which can accommodate 400 people. The assumption that Saudi families are not interested in having group iftars is untrue,” she said.

“There are no live entertainment shows during Ramadan, but there will be big screens everywhere for visitors to watch live prayers, soaps and other programs. We are looking to celebrate Ramadan with a variety of iftar and suhur buffets specially designed to appeal to diners of all nationalities,” she added.

Ramadan delicacies will be available at the hotel’s Qasr Al-Sharq (Palace of the Orient), Al-Amwaj Restaurant and the main hall.

Diners can break their fast on a wide range of Arabian, Asian and Mediterranean meals, juices, soups, desserts, chocolates and traditional dishes such as ouzi, chicken and beef shawarma, grilled meat, kunafa and katayef, as well as international culinary treats that include Japanese sushi.

“Ramadan is a special, family-oriented month that brings relatives and friends together. We are keen to help our guests enjoy diverse types of food at iftar,” Alam Dar said.

Al-Salam Holiday Inn in Jeddah is also organizing special evenings for both Muslims and non-Muslims.

“By offering a wide range of dishes from around the world, we will try to ensure that diners can enjoy a wide variety of food and share iftar and suhur with people from different countries and cultures,” said Khalil Abdulal Khalil, deputy general manager at the hotel. “Live cooking stations will also be set up. In addition, there will also be restaurants offering special iftar buffets, including a variety of dishes from different countries such as Morocco, Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and China,” he said.

He added that the hotel’s Al-Safa Hall can accommodate 400 people. “Families that prefer to have separate iftars without mixing with other diners can request special tents.”

He also said that many non-Muslims in Saudi Arabia fast during the day and share iftar with Muslim friends and colleagues. “They enjoy breaking their fasts with Muslims,” said Khalil.

InterContinental Hotel is also competing with other hotels, and has set up several iftar tents both inside and outside the hotel.

“We are offering special iftar buffets in the hotel’s garden. People can have iftar and watch television. A variety of dishes will be available, including Lebanese and Egyptian dishes. Two iftar tents will be located at the swimming pool after 9 p.m. These tents will offer light dishes,” said Mohammad Al-Refai, a PR manager at the Jeddah InterContinental.

“Al-Ferdous restaurant will open at night to also receive people for suhur,” he said, adding that the prices range between SR150 and SR200.

Comments

M H KAYANI

Report abuse
What news, now the values of Islam linked with prophets and greed with such cruel discrimination in the society , that must follow the fairness and helping hands in the monh of Rehmah. ameen

ABU ABDULLAH

Report abuse
We hope and pray these hotels and their guests remember the less fortunate ones worldwide and do not engage in using their money to waste food and other resources during this blessed month. Indeed it is often said that we waste more food during this month, on iftar and related food eating gatherings, than any other month. Now that's a shame for a divine way of life that specifically makes it forbidden (haram) to waste food. We must avoid being deceived by shaytaan that we will collect left overs and give the poor. Can we eat left overs ourselves?

JAWWAD

Report abuse
What a shame for these Muslim individuals who are in-line with these corporate giants, who are bend backward to destroy the real essence of Islam. Ramadhan is not for eating and enjoying. But to build God Consciousness and help/share their wealth with less fortunate people. May Allah SWT guide us all to real teaching of Quran.

NUHA

Report abuse
Oh what a shame spending the nights of Ramadan surrounded by harram TV and wasting money and time and food instead of worshipping Allah, who established this holy month only for that reason. May Allah forgive us and guide us on the straight path and not lead us astray!
Post your comment

required

required (email will never be displayed)

Please enter the following characters in the box provided (case sensitive). This helps us prevent automated programs from creating accounts and sending spam.

All comments are subject to approval

Terms and conditions

Latest comments