Freezing 300 kebabs, stocking up: How UAE families are preparing to welcome Ramadan

With Ramadan on the horizon, families residing in the UAE are eagerly gearing up for the holy month. As part of their preparations, these families are not only stocking up on essential Ramadan necessities, but also seeking out nostalgic items from their homelands.

After fasting from dawn to dusk, meals are a big part the day. While some like to switch it up with different types of snacks and cuisines, most prefer to have traditional meals and comfort food after a long day of fasting. Khaleej Times spoke to a few families and asked them what they liked to stock up on during the month.

For British expat Grant Randall and his Moroccan wife Sophia Said, the month is a return back to their roots. “I work soon after Iftar as I train students in martial arts,” says Grant. “So Iftar is always on the go for me. What I like to eat soon after breaking my fast is a Moroccan dish called Harira. Sophia brews it like a soup with vegetables, chicken and lentils. It is perfect for me because it gives me the energy to get through my physical training without giving me a 'stuffed' feeling.”

For dinner, the couple like to keep it traditional. “We either go for some Moroccan dishes like grilled chicken or something British like Shepherd’s pie, which I love during Ramadan,” he says. “I think the one thing we stock up the most during Ramadan is Moroccan spices for all the dishes we make, as well as lots of fruits and vegetables.”

Traditional comfort food

For German-Pakistani couple Salman and Maheen Ali, their Ramadan prep is mostly traditional as well. “The only German thing I stock up during Ramadan is the cacao, which is basically chocolate milk powder,” says Maheen. “But otherwise, it is mostly Pakistani dishes that are popular in our household. Rooh Afza (a concentrated squash made of herbs, roots, vegetables, and fruits) is an absolute essential. I also buy dahi baray (lentil fritters in yoghurt) which can be soaked. I also prepare and flash freeze a lot of snacks because it gives me more time to do acts of worship during the month.”

Rooh Afza, which was formulated in the Indian subcontinent in the early 1900s, is one of the most popular squashes in the region. The pink concentrate is added to several dishes and has over the years become an indispensable part of Ramadan for many from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, among other countries.

Maheen says she has already prepared and stocked up her fridge with some popular snacks. “I spent the last weekend making samosas and rolls,” she said. “My children are 13 and 10 and they love the chicken and cheese samosas so I make those. I think what everyone loves the most about Ramadan is the amount of time we spend together. Although they find it hard to wake up for Suhoor, they still love the energy of everyone waking up and eating together.”

Nostalgic items for Iftar

Dr. Sumia Abdel Hamid, a Sudanese expat and university professor, emphasises the significance of Ramadan as a month of religious devotion and abstaining from distractions.

“Because Ramadan such a great month, it’s a month of religion and worshipping God, we don’t get distracted by preparations - that’s why we prepare for it before it starts,” Dr. Sumia tells Khaleej Times.

She explains that she and her family begins their preparations a week before Ramadan starts, ensuring they have an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. In particular, they stock up on mangoes, guavas, and oranges, which they divide into mini bags and freeze to make fresh juices throughout the month.

• Fake disability, fleeing police: Dubai residents scammed by 'beggars' more frequently during Ramadan