‘Fast for a Day’ Event in Dubai Attracts Non-Muslims

Dubai - The ‘Fast for a Day’ event that was held this Ramadan invited all non-Muslims to experience a day of fasting followed by an Iftar gathering for all participants.

The event which was organised by The Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), hosted all participants of the ‘Ramadan in Dubai’ event, Fast for a Day, to an Iftar gathering at the Dubai World Trade Centre on Sunday, 28th July.

The ‘Fast For A Day’ event offered non-Muslim visitors and expatriates the opportunity to obtain valuable insights into this month of reflection and self- restraint and experience the act of fasting itself with special emphasis being laid on the need to promote cross-cultural understanding.

Yousuf Mubarak, Executive Director, Government Affairs at DFRE, said: “The large turnout at this unique cultural event, which coincided with the Zayed Humanitarian Day on the 19th day of Ramadan, is evidence of the strong desire by people from various nationalities and faiths to learn and understand about different cultures.”

“In fact, ‘Fast For A Day’ was aimed at enlightening our friends and guests from non-Muslim communities on not just the significance of Ramadan but also on the Islamic and local way of life,” he continued.

He also added that “On behalf of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, I would also like to extend my appreciation to all participants and the various government entities for their valuable support that ensured the success of our ‘First Fast For A Day’”.

The event was driven by a week-long social media drive undertaken by DFRE that encouraged residents and visitors to sign up for the ‘Fast For A Day’ event and also offered tips, hints and facts on fasting.

The iftar programme featured three interesting lectures covering Islamic culture, customs and food habits.

Islamic scholar, Dr Mohammad Al Qubaisi, the Grand Mufti at the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai, gave a talk on the benefits and importance of fasting, which was followed by an interesting talk by nutritional expert Maryam Rehama Al Shamsi on guidelines for partaking food during the fast.

The final lecture was delivered by Dr. Nasif Kayed, Managing Director of the Shaikh Mohammad Centre for Cultural Understanding, who took the guests through a presentation that dwelled into Emirati hospitality and traditions, as well as the heritage and history of the UAE.

The third ‘Ramadan in Dubai’ is the second phase of DFRE’s “Summer is Dubai,” a campaign that aims to position Dubai as a family tourism destination by organising a number of traditional and cultural activities inspired by the spirit and values of Ramadan.