Life in the Kingdom turns almost upside down as there are less activities in the morning, while the country is awake the whole night.

This experience for many is difficult to deal with. Some get homesick and start missing Ramadan life back home.

Lele Malias, a 27-year-old Indonesian nurse working at a private polyclinic in Jeddah and living with her friends, misses Ramadan life in Jakarta. She said that Muslims in Indonesia have similar habits as Saudis.

“We wake up very early in the morning to prepare the suhour (pre-dawn) meal and then complete house duties after Fajr prayer. We take a nap in the afternoon to organize our daily schedule,” she said.

“Muslims who are not normally diligent in praying five times a day do so regularly during Ramadan. They maintain this habit, even if it delays their work outside or inside the home.”

According to Malias, Ramadan in Indonesia changes the whole country.

“Cafes and some restaurants close during the day and others stop serving alcohol. In addition, the government closes night entertainment centers,” she said.

She said people find it hard getting a seat at restaurants.

“In fact, restaurants do brisk business during Ramadan as families eat out more often than usual. That is why the number of buffets increases.”

She added that the number of beggars also increases during Ramadan, many of them coming from small villages.

“In Egypt, Ramadan is different from any other country,” said Egyptian university student Khaled Mansour.

Egyptians welcome Ramadan days before the month start, he added.

“Homes will be decorated with the famous fanoos (lantern). This is something I do not see in Jeddah. You will see Egyptian culture on the street. People break their fast in street coffee shops, which is something only seen in Egypt. Some Saudis are addicted to this culture and preferred to spend Ramadan in Cairo.”

All mosques and streets in Egypt are decorated with fanoos of various shapes and colors, reflecting a strong festival atmosphere. Children play in the streets while singing traditional songs related to Ramadan.

According to Mansour, families exchange dishes with one another during iftar. He added that there are huge charity tents available everywhere in Cairo.

“Charity iftar tents are a Ramadan tradition in Cairo. People erect tents in the streets to serve people free meals. Everyone is allowed to set them up. It is not exclusive to mosques or charity organizations,” he said.

He added Egyptians still adhere to Islamic traditions as they spend more time praying at mosques, reading Qur’an and visiting relatives.

For British expatriate and journalist Yusuf Patel, who is spending his first Ramadan in the Kingdom, working hours are easier.

“In London where I used to work, I would not have had much time to break my fast and grab something to eat. In Saudi Arabia, where I work, we get around two hours to eat, pray and relax. Others in our company are allowed to leave at four so they can prepare for iftar.”

Patel added that iftar parties in the UK tend to be more intimate and family oriented.

“In Saudi Arabia, however, I’ve been invited to three or four extravagant hotel parties for iftar and suhour, similar to what people have during Christmas in London. Needless to say, I’m developing a tire around my waist, whereas in the past, I would actually lose weight.”