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Dubai: The tradition of late night Ramadan tents is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain as tent operators charge exorbitant prices for their services this year, Dubai residents have complained.
The tradition which has roots in post iftar Ramadan gatherings in the Arab world where members of a community meet to socialise, read the Quran or have the pre-dawn suhoor meal, has turned into a cash machine, they say.
The tent tradition has evolved into late night social gatherings where smoking shisha and having Arabic coffee in air conditioned tents is popular.
"It has become so difficult to keep up with our Ramadan tradition now. I used to go to a Ramadan tent every evening last year, but it seems that everybody is out to maximise their profit at the expense of our enjoyment," said Ali Khalid, a Dubai resident.
Khalid is among a number of Dubai residents who are raising eyebrows at the prices some tent operators have set for food and services this year. Dubai resident Bassam Ahmad insists that tent prices are expensive.
"I was shocked to see one hotel charging a minimum of Dh3,000 per night for VIP tables," he said.
Tent operators who have increased their prices or introduced minimum charges, service charges and cover charges, said that the competition between the several tent operators forces them to introduce extra, costlier services to remain uniquely attractive to the consumer.
Competition
Rami Shehadeh, Managing Director of IC events, which has set up a massive 'Living Room' tent in the Dubai Media City, told Gulf News the ambience his tent offers has not been matched yet. The tent, which accommodates 800 people, introduced a Dh100 cover charge for each of its 31 VIP sofa sets. Shehadeh said that upgrading of services, such as the introduction of live music bands, is necessary to stay ahead of competition, and "that costs us a lot".
Although the Living Room's price hikes are modest in comparison to some other tents, Shehadeh said a market exists for Ramadan tents no matter how expensive they become. "We were filled to capacity from day one of Ramadan."
Dima Ayed, food and beverage marketing manager for Madinat Jumeirah, said that despite setting a minimum charge of Dh75 per person, not inclusive of shisha that could cost up to Dh75 alone, the Ramadan tent at the venue sees people waiting for 20 minutes during peak hours every evening just to get in.
Humaid Mansoor, a Dubai resident, 24, said that he expects to spend more during Ramadan because it has become "normal" to pay more for outings during the month "but that doesn't mean continuous price increases are justified".
What they say
Hothaifa Al Khayat, 30
Palestinian assistant civil engineer, Dubai
"The fact that Ramadan brings people closer to God makes the month a much awaited occasion for Muslims and they make more effort to keep to the true spirit through prayers and alms-giving. The spirit has been maintained till today despite the fact that many companies are trying to exploit Ramadan to raise their profits."
Mohammad Al Hasan Mousa, 45
Sudanese taxi driver, Fujairah
"Sometimes Ramadan seems very distant from what it use to be about. Businesses are now marking out Ramadan as a time to make huge amounts of money and they prepare for it way in advance. Before, Ramadan use to be about the religious and social rituals. People used to celebrate the month as a community but now most people are doing their own thing without much thought for the wider social aspects of this special time of the year."
Ali Khalil Qasim, 26
Egyptian airline staff, Fujairah
"It may be that we just notice the commercial aspects of Ramadan more because it's a more visible side to many, especially with businesses targeting this time of the year. Families now spend the days leading up to Ramadan in supermarkets and do more of the same in the days leading up to Eid, which doesn't leave much to spiritual contemplation."
Mu'ayyad Mehyar, 40
Jordan, Abu Dhabi
"I used to look forward to Ramadan but I'm not as enthusiastic as before. That is because the right context is not there anymore. The month is losing its religious character. It is becoming too commercialised and people do not understand the wisdom behind fasting, which is to purify the self, the soul and the body. People just eat more and watch more TV during Ramadan."
Fahed Al Rayes, 28
Emirati, Abu Dhabi
"I don't believe Ramadan is losing its religious character, however, Ramadan is becoming too commercialised, which can especially been seen in television advertisements. There are 10 commercials every few minutes in a TV series. Newspapers and street billboards are being bombarded with advertisements as if this is the last month in life. I blame the advertisers for the commercialisation of Ramadan."
Ahmad Marouf, 21
Emirati student, Dubai
"I look forward to Ramadan as it is a great opportunity for family gatherings, but I feel that it is becoming too commercialised. I become more spiritual during Ramadan and try to pay more visits to the mosque, but generally commercialism has invaded the month, especially that companies are playing on the fact that we are hungry during fasting and try to market their products excessively."
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