Ramadan 2014: Top 10 Iftars In Dubai

As the holy month of Ramadan gets underway, Gulf Business reveals Dubai’s top 10 iftars in no particular order. From traditional Emirati favourites to exotic delights, the iftars in Dubai can be as diverse as the city itself.

1. FLOW KITCHEN AT FAIRMONT THE PALM

Time: Sunset to 9pm
Price: Dhs185 per person
Suhour: 9pm to 3am
Price: A la carte
Pricing includes municipality fees and service charge

Specialised cuisines from around the Middle East will be highlighted, including hot and cold mezze, traditional Ouzi lamb, as well as live shawarma and mannakesh stations. A variety of traditional desserts and juices will also be featured, including Katayef (folded pancakes), Awamat (doughnut balls), Karkade (hibiscus flower tea) and Qamar Al Deen (apricot juice). An à la carte Sohour menu with a wide selection of shisha flavours can be enjoyed at a 350 sqm outdoor air conditioned tent seating up to 140 persons.

Additionally, guests can choose to watch the 2014 FIFA World Cup games on multiple TV screens in the tent or take in views of the Arabian Gulf and Dubai Marina skyline.

2. RAFFLES, DUBAI

Time: From sunset onwards
Price: Dhs185 per person

Guests can enjoy a meal at Azur Restaurant that overlooks the Raffles Botanical Gardens. The iftar will include all the traditional Arabian favourites with a few classic specialities. The total rate charged also includes Ramadan juices, soft drinks and water.

3. MOVENPICK, IBN BATTUTA

Time: Sunset to 9pm
Price: Dhs165 per person

Set in a great hall with almost 88 Arabic lanterns, the iftar buffet is served in Movenpick’s Al Bahou restaurant. Guests can enjoy a sumptuous spread inspired by Ibn Battuta’s travels through Italy, Morocco, India and Asia, all to the soothing sounds of the Oud.

4.SHERATON DUBAI CREEK HOTEL

Time: From Sunset onwards
Price: Dhs119 per person
Suhour: Sunset to 4am
All prices are inclusive of 10 per cent municipality fees and 10 per cent service charge.

Situated alongside the creek, Hatta restaurant at the Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel and Towers aims to revoke the feel of ‘Old Dubai’ among guests. Hatta’s iftar buffet will feature a wide selection of traditional Arabic delicacies, including shish taouk, shawarma, kofta and mix-grilled meats in various marinades, and offer views overlooking the pool and Creek.

The hotel will also offer a daily suhoor at The Lobby Café, where an a la carte menu will be served between sunset and 4:00am.

5. LALEZAR, JUMEIRAH ZABEEL SARAY

Time: Sunset until 12pm
Price: Dhs195 per person

Guests can savour an Ottoman iftar at Lalezar, Dubai’s first Anatolian restaurant. The spread will include exquisite Turkish delicacies and desserts served family style and complemented by traditional Samovar-brewed tea and Turkish coffee.

6. RITZ CARLTON, DIFC

Time: Sunset to 9pm
Price: Dhs190 per person, Dhs100 per head for children
Suhour: 9pm to 2am

The hotel’s ballroom will be transformed into a lavish Ramadan majlis, where a sumptuous iftar buffet will be served. The highlights are 12 live cooking stations, where chefs from the hotel will showcase their creative flair. In addition, there is a hummus fountain, where guests can dip pitta bread, falafel and stuffed olives into the flowing hummus, and the falafel waffle station.

An a la carte Suhour will be set in the Sunken Garden with a menu of over 30 flavours of shisha.

7. AL NAFOORAH, JUMEIRAH ZABEEL SARAY

Time: Sunset until 12pm
Price: Dhs185 per person

Traditional Lebanese delicacies will be a prime attraction at Al Nafoorah. Guests can relish a wide spread of mezzeh, main courses and desserts in surroundings which echo Arabian influences. The restaurant offers a family style menu with dinner and shisha in the Arabic tent until 3am.

8. MADINAT JUMEIRAH

Time: Sunset to 9pm
Price: Dhs220 per person
Suhour: 9.30pm to 3am

Madinat Jumeirah’s Ramadan venue, Al Majlis, is located within the Madinat Arena and has a seating capacity of 1000 guests. In addition to the main dining area, guests can enjoy intimate opulence in four VIP private majlis with the capacity of 30 guests or 20 VIP private majlis with the capacity to accommodate 15 guests. Iftar will be set at Arboretum, Al Muna, Khaymat Al Bahar and Al Hambra restaurants for Dhs220 (including Ramadan juices, water and soft drinks). At Arboretum, children below the age of 4-years dine free, while children between 4-12 years are eligible to a 50 per cent discount.

9. VIDA DOWNTOWN

Time: Sunset to 9pm
Price: Dhs170 per person

Iftar during Ramadan takes center stage at 3in1 in Vida Downtown Dubai. The buffet provides guests with an extensive line-up of international and Arabic dishes, such as cold vine leaves, fatoush and wakame salad, among others, in addition to a dessert set-up featuring traditional and contemporary favourites. Guests can begin their iftar with hot mezzeh, while a selection of main courses such as mix grill, chicken molokeya, and daud pasha, are served to share for the perfect evening. Visitors choose to sit indoors or on the terrace, enjoying entertainment from an oriental band.

10. ARABIAN COURTYARD HOTEL & SPA

Time: From sunset onwards
Price: Dhs85 per person

Located in the heart of the ancient cultural district and diplomatic enclosure of Dubai, Arabian Courtyard Hotel & Spa offers guests to break their fast with a wide selection of Indian, Pakistani and traditional Arabic and international delicacies at Bastakiya Café & Restaurant located on Mezzanine Floor overlooking the Dubai Museum. The live cooking stations include a live chaat counter offering papdi chaat, two varieties of tempered chana, onion pakoras, chilli pakoras, falafel, spinach fatayer and Ramadan juices.

A selection of Arabic, Oriental and International desserts such as basboosa, um ali, badam kheer, fruit salad and jelabi are also on offer.