How three generations of an Emirati family bond over Iftar

Khaleej Times reporter shares her experience of ending her fasting with an Emirati family

Thanks to the warm welcome from the Al Zarooni family, I got a chance to experience a traditional Ramadan Iftar with an Emirati family, after living in the UAE for 23 years.
This was also the first time I welcomed the Holy Month of Ramadan outside my own home. Arriving at 5:30pm, I was greeted by Samira Al Zarooni, mother of five sons and three daughters, with a beaming smile to her two-storey villa at Al Wasl in Dubai.

Iftar not about just food, but family The concept of Ramadan varies from person to person. Here's what the Al Zarooni family has ?to say. Samira Al Zarooni says: "It's not about the food, it's about family. Without the other members of the family around, it is just five of us at the table and not much fun." "But the good thing is, you are not distanced from the family anymore, thanks to modern technology. Back in the day, transport and making phone calls were difficult, but now all forms of communication are easily available." Talking about food, Samira's children love Chinese cuisine, and she ensures that Chinese goodies are on the table for the first day ?of Ramadan. "My kids love Chinese, so I included it in today's menu," Samira said. The chicken noodles are the biggest hit. Another creative appetiser is the cheese sambousa with zaatar.

As we walk into the living room, Samira and I bonded over discussions on different topics that ranged from politics, life in the UAE, to sports and family matters. Out of her eight children, only two sons and a daughter currently live with her. Her youngest son Abdullah is a 9th grader at Al Mawakeb School.
Soon, our topics moved to fasting, Ramadan delicacies, appetisers and how they are prepared even before the beginning of the Holy Month.
"We start stuffing the sambousa (Arabic egg roll) and the basic Ramadan appetisers 10 days before the month starts," Samira said.
She leads me to a separate extension of the home where three Ethiopian women are frying chicken fingers, sambousas, French fries and spring rolls.
The aromas are strong enough to remind me of how long my day had been. "I am a coffee and tea addict, so the first day of Ramadan is always the hardest," Samira said, as she prepared the popular Emirati dessert ligamat.
Dishes like fareeth (layers of bread with meat/chicken), harees (wheat made with lamb or chicken) and saloona (Emirati stew served with boiled white rice) are some of the traditional dishes served on the first day of Ramadan. "Fareeth is an Emirati favourite. We make it every day along with sambousa, which is why we put on weight during Ramadan," Samira laughed.
The doorbell rings more than once during our visit, and Samira explains, "We exchange delicacies and food with our neighbours during the Holy Month.
 "The first day of Ramadan is when the whole family gathers together. My children come with their spouses and children," she said.
Guests arrive, laughter fills the house and soon enough, the home begins to fill up.
The first guest is Samira's newly-wed daughter Fatima Al Zarooni, who comes with her husband Sultan. Fatima is the founder of her own fashion label.
As her young nieces Maria and Hind arrive, Fatima says the dresses worn by the little girls are her designs. By 7pm, the house is packed with around 20 people.
As the television airs Maghreb prayers, the entire family and guests end their fast with dates and water, before reaching out for the food, which was spread out in buffet style. Ismail Al Zarooni, the head of the family, explains, "We decided on a buffet setting this year to make it more organised for everyone."
He spends the evening cracking jokes and telling stories over Iftar with his sons-in-law, while the kids run around playing games.
Samira joins the table after the prayers. The family later gather over desserts, tea and Arabic coffee. Ligamat and rangina (a date dessert) are the highlights.
 "We keep the dates in the freezer so they stay ripe all year even when it's not in season," says Aisha, Samira's daughter and mother of three children, about the rangina.
Aware that I live in Sharjah, Samira, tells me, "If you are in Dubai, ?you can walk in at anytime for Iftar instead of driving back all the way to Sharjah." So I bid the family goodbye at 8.15pm, and hit the road.
After being treated no less than a family member on my first visit to the Al Zarooni family Iftar, I will definitely consider Samira's offer.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com

The first Iftar is special for Al Zarooni family, as the entire clan gets together for the occasion

• UAE
• Ramadan 2021
• Ramadan News
• Dubai