DAMMAM/JEDDAH, 25 October 2003 — With Ramadan about to turn the rhythms of life and business in the Kingdom upside down, many expatriates and visitors say they realize the importance of this time of the year for Muslims and are ready to do their best to conform.
“Of course we are prepared to change our routine and behavior. We must respect the laws of this country and we must also consider the personal sacrifice Muslims make during this holy month,” said Van De Rick from the Netherlands who has been working in Saudi Arabia for seven years.
“As foreigners and guests of this country and living within this culture, we may not be expected to fast in Ramadan, but we are expected to refrain from eating, drinking and smoking in public during daylight hours. W should all respect that,” he said.
Van De Rick says observing Ramadan has been a great experience and looks forward to enjoying the long nights. “We’ve had wonderful times in Ramadan. There are a lot of enjoyable activities over the next 30 days.”
Neil McDonald, a British employee who has been experiencing Ramadan here in the Kingdom for the last four years, told Arab News that most of his friends take their vacation during Ramadan but he always stays. “It’s really an enjoyable time of the year,” he said.
“I enjoy walking in Balad during Ramadan nights,” he added. “It’s great to see traditional dishes being served on every corner, and to see traditional Arab hospitality.”
Canadian resident Mat Anderson, who has spent 10 years in Alkhobar and Jeddah, was equally enthusiastic. “It’s a great experience. It seems observing the fast does not stop people going about their daily tasks, though of course it slows down during the day.” Anderson has joined in the fast himself in previous years. “I just wanted to do it to feel how Muslims do it, and it really turned out to be very positive: I lost weight and I smoked a lot less,” he added.
During Ramadan, working hours in businesses and offices are reduced to six hours for Muslims. But shops and markets open much longer at night, with most of them staying open till the morning prayer and others till 2 a.m. Shoppers turn out in droves after Isha and Taraveeh prayers.
Businessmen say that the switch is automatic and immediate. “This rescheduling is good for shoppers and shopkeepers, said Abdullah, the owner of an electronics shop in downtown Dammam. Shopkeepers and mall management are working overtime to get their businesses ready for Ramadan. There is hardly a shop in Dammam and Alkhobar that is not offering special packages including heavy discounted goods and door prizes worth millions of riyals.
Businesses are legally required to seek permission from the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry to offer discounts, but chamber officials admit privately that many businesses do not bother.
“Since the whole exercise is limited for one month only and Ramadan is a holy month, we prefer not to take stiff action against defaulters,” said an official at the chamber
Meanwhile mosque committees and social groups are busy setting up stalls at strategic locations for Iftar and many companies and manufacturers are supplying free goods to charities. The committees are also refurbishing mosques and expanding their capacity in order to accommodate more worshipers.
