Apr 13, 2016, 2:03 am
Last edit by: remdk
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Muslim calendar where Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.
Ramadan is a holy month to Muslims and also a joyous and spiritual time. I am concentrating upon that which most affects Non-Muslim QR passengers during Ramadan.
When is Ramadan?
Because the Muslim´calendar is a lunar calendar the date in the Gregorian, or solar, calendar changes every year. Each year it is about 11 days earlier than the previous year.
Ramadan 2017 was 27 May to 25 June.
Ramadan 2018 was16 May to 14 June.
Ramadan 2019 was 6 May to 4 June.
Ramadan 2020 was 24 April to 23 May.
Ramadan 2021 was 12 April to 11 May.
Ramadan 2022 was 2 April to 2 May.
Ramadan 2023 wss 22 March to 23 April.
Ramadan 2024 is 10 March to 9 April.
Ramadan 2025 is 1 March to 30 March.
Ramadan 2026 is 18 February to 19 March.
Ramadan 2027 is 8 February to 9 March.
When does Ramadan actually start?
The Muslim day starts at sunset and continues to sunset. Sightings for the new moon are taken at sunset and when sighted the month of Ramadan has started. Fasting begins later in the Muslim day at sunrise. Thus if Ramadan starts on June 6th then it is the sighting of the new moon at sunset on June 5th that marks the official start. Tha actual start date may be different due to the fact that we live on a globe and it takes 24 hours to rotate on its axis! The dates quoted are for Qatar.
Are there exceptions to the rules?
There are exceptions to fasting rules such as the aged, sick, pregnant women, travellers, etc.
Some branches of Islam demand payment of a fine or a penance, such as feeding the poor, for breaking the fast whilst other branches do not. In some branches of Islam travellers may voluntarily choose to continue fasting whilst other branches forbid fasting whilst travelling.
When does Fasting take place?
Most agree that the times of fasting are from Sunrise to Sunset. Others use Dawn and Dusk. The latter could cause serious health problems for those who live at latitude 48.5 or greater. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight for an explanation.
How does Ramadan affect QR?
QR adheres to the rules of Ramadan as required by the State of Qatar.
Food is always available inside the airport and on all flights. This is because of the traveller rules.
Non alcoholic drinks are always available both in the airport and on all flights.
Alcohol is NOT available at Hamad International Airport either inside or outside the airport buildings, even at the Airport hotel. However in 2023 alcohol was being served in at least the Al Safwa and Al Mourjan airport lounges. At the moment it is not known if this also applied to other lounges. Pleas look at this years postings to see other lounges also served alcohol.
Alcohol is not available on most flights to/from muslim countries. Certain muslim countries, such as Malaysia, are regarded as multicultural countries and the in-flight alcohol ban does not apply. On all other flights to/from DOH alcohol is available after departure. The cabin crew decide when departure is. For some it is when you board the aircraft, for others closing the doors, others pushback and yet others after take-off. Where alcohol is permitted on the flight then it will be served by the glass, the bottle remaining in the galley. Pre departure alcoholic drinks as well as in flight drinks will normally be served on flights to/from DOH where alcohol is permitted. There may be exceptions. In 2023 AMM, AUH and SHJ served alcohol, on flights, at least some of the time. The AMM lounge also served alcohol. (See post 382)
In every respect, other than alcohol, service is unchanged throughout QR. BUT where alcohol is available it is not normally on display, but served by the glass from the bar or galley and sometimes needs to be requested..
Duty free alcohol is available at QDF. But there may be restrictions such as delivery to the aircraft door.
How does Ramadan affect The State of Qatar?
If you leave the airport during Ramadan please remember
1) the sale and public consumption of Alcohol is banned by law during Ramadan. In several, but not all, hotels alcohol may be obtained by residents from room service.
2) It is extremely offensive, and in some Muslim countries, including Qatar, a criminal offence, to be seen eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum in public during the period of fasting.
According to https://discoverqatar.qatarairways.c...madan/overview
"If you need to drink or eat, please do so in the privacy of your own room or in a place where you won’t be seen."
If you need to eat or drink please do it discretely and out of sight of others.
Want to know more?
If you want more information then http://marhaba.qa/ramadan-dos-and-donts-in-qatar/ is specific to Qatar. If you are also interested in health issues then A_guide_to_healthy_fasting is worth looking at, not only for health issues.
This Wiki and thread is about how Ramadan affects QR passengers.
Thanks are due to IAN-UK, Lobengula, RUN4FUN, sharp5flat9, SullyofDoha, VH-RMD and others for help in making this as accurate as possible.
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Muslim calendar where Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.
Ramadan is a holy month to Muslims and also a joyous and spiritual time. I am concentrating upon that which most affects Non-Muslim QR passengers during Ramadan.
When is Ramadan?
Because the Muslim´calendar is a lunar calendar the date in the Gregorian, or solar, calendar changes every year. Each year it is about 11 days earlier than the previous year.
Ramadan 2017 was 27 May to 25 June.
Ramadan 2018 was16 May to 14 June.
Ramadan 2019 was 6 May to 4 June.
Ramadan 2020 was 24 April to 23 May.
Ramadan 2021 was 12 April to 11 May.
Ramadan 2022 was 2 April to 2 May.
Ramadan 2023 wss 22 March to 23 April.
Ramadan 2024 is 10 March to 9 April.
Ramadan 2025 is 1 March to 30 March.
Ramadan 2026 is 18 February to 19 March.
Ramadan 2027 is 8 February to 9 March.
When does Ramadan actually start?
The Muslim day starts at sunset and continues to sunset. Sightings for the new moon are taken at sunset and when sighted the month of Ramadan has started. Fasting begins later in the Muslim day at sunrise. Thus if Ramadan starts on June 6th then it is the sighting of the new moon at sunset on June 5th that marks the official start. Tha actual start date may be different due to the fact that we live on a globe and it takes 24 hours to rotate on its axis! The dates quoted are for Qatar.
Are there exceptions to the rules?
There are exceptions to fasting rules such as the aged, sick, pregnant women, travellers, etc.
Some branches of Islam demand payment of a fine or a penance, such as feeding the poor, for breaking the fast whilst other branches do not. In some branches of Islam travellers may voluntarily choose to continue fasting whilst other branches forbid fasting whilst travelling.
When does Fasting take place?
Most agree that the times of fasting are from Sunrise to Sunset. Others use Dawn and Dusk. The latter could cause serious health problems for those who live at latitude 48.5 or greater. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight for an explanation.
How does Ramadan affect QR?
QR adheres to the rules of Ramadan as required by the State of Qatar.
Food is always available inside the airport and on all flights. This is because of the traveller rules.
Non alcoholic drinks are always available both in the airport and on all flights.
Alcohol is NOT available at Hamad International Airport either inside or outside the airport buildings, even at the Airport hotel. However in 2023 alcohol was being served in at least the Al Safwa and Al Mourjan airport lounges. At the moment it is not known if this also applied to other lounges. Pleas look at this years postings to see other lounges also served alcohol.
Alcohol is not available on most flights to/from muslim countries. Certain muslim countries, such as Malaysia, are regarded as multicultural countries and the in-flight alcohol ban does not apply. On all other flights to/from DOH alcohol is available after departure. The cabin crew decide when departure is. For some it is when you board the aircraft, for others closing the doors, others pushback and yet others after take-off. Where alcohol is permitted on the flight then it will be served by the glass, the bottle remaining in the galley. Pre departure alcoholic drinks as well as in flight drinks will normally be served on flights to/from DOH where alcohol is permitted. There may be exceptions. In 2023 AMM, AUH and SHJ served alcohol, on flights, at least some of the time. The AMM lounge also served alcohol. (See post 382)
In every respect, other than alcohol, service is unchanged throughout QR. BUT where alcohol is available it is not normally on display, but served by the glass from the bar or galley and sometimes needs to be requested..
Duty free alcohol is available at QDF. But there may be restrictions such as delivery to the aircraft door.
How does Ramadan affect The State of Qatar?
If you leave the airport during Ramadan please remember
1) the sale and public consumption of Alcohol is banned by law during Ramadan. In several, but not all, hotels alcohol may be obtained by residents from room service.
2) It is extremely offensive, and in some Muslim countries, including Qatar, a criminal offence, to be seen eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum in public during the period of fasting.
According to https://discoverqatar.qatarairways.c...madan/overview
"If you need to drink or eat, please do so in the privacy of your own room or in a place where you won’t be seen."
If you need to eat or drink please do it discretely and out of sight of others.
Want to know more?
If you want more information then http://marhaba.qa/ramadan-dos-and-donts-in-qatar/ is specific to Qatar. If you are also interested in health issues then A_guide_to_healthy_fasting is worth looking at, not only for health issues.
This Wiki and thread is about how Ramadan affects QR passengers.
Thanks are due to IAN-UK, Lobengula, RUN4FUN, sharp5flat9, SullyofDoha, VH-RMD and others for help in making this as accurate as possible.
Ramadan Master Thread - 10 March 2024 to 9 April 2024
Apr 9, 2016, 12:32 pm
#31
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 8,948
benberg2013 after careful consideration I agree that this would answer more queries if it were a Wiki.
I have just expanded and re-posted post 1 so I hope that the outstanding points can be solved soon.
If anyone knows a reference to a guide to creating Wikis on Flyertalk then please let me know.
Since this is a topic that generates many postings over an 8 month period (6 months prior to, during and one month after Ramadan) pérhaps msm2000uk would consider adding it to the new Dashboad making it much more visible.
I have just expanded and re-posted post 1 so I hope that the outstanding points can be solved soon.
If anyone knows a reference to a guide to creating Wikis on Flyertalk then please let me know.
Since this is a topic that generates many postings over an 8 month period (6 months prior to, during and one month after Ramadan) pérhaps msm2000uk would consider adding it to the new Dashboad making it much more visible.
If you'd like help with the WIKI, let me know.
M
Apr 10, 2016, 1:48 am
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,222
A little disappointed in this because I was hoping to try some Krug in the Al Safwa lounge. As luck would unfortunately have it, I'm arriving at DOH at 11:45pm on 5 June and departing DOH at 6:50am on 6 June.
Sounds like we may not know exactly when things are cut off. Most sites I have seen list the beginning as sunset the night before, but I have also read some sites that list the date as 7 June and some as 6 June. So it is possible the restrictions could come in place on the evening of 6 June.
Anyone have any more granularity or insight?
Sounds like we may not know exactly when things are cut off. Most sites I have seen list the beginning as sunset the night before, but I have also read some sites that list the date as 7 June and some as 6 June. So it is possible the restrictions could come in place on the evening of 6 June.
Anyone have any more granularity or insight?
Apr 10, 2016, 9:00 am
#33
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
Cheetah_SA there has been a discussion on this thread about where alcohol is available during Ramadan.
1. Alcohol is only available through room service at some (all?) hotels- I do not know about the Airport hotel but i would imagine that if room service there includes food service then I expect it would serve alcohol.
2. You can continue to purchase duty free alcohol but I read somewhere that it will be delivered to you at the aircraft door. It could have been another airport so do not take it as fact.
1. Alcohol is only available through room service at some (all?) hotels- I do not know about the Airport hotel but i would imagine that if room service there includes food service then I expect it would serve alcohol.
2. You can continue to purchase duty free alcohol but I read somewhere that it will be delivered to you at the aircraft door. It could have been another airport so do not take it as fact.
Apr 10, 2016, 9:47 am
#34
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,944
Annalisa12 your observations are correct. Staff members apart anyone within the restricted area are travellers and thus exempt from the rules of fasting. Therefore food and drink (non alcoholic) is freely available.
It is illegal to serve or consume alcohol at the airport during Ramadan.
I suggest that you read this thread where this topic is discussed and eplained.
It is illegal to serve or consume alcohol at the airport during Ramadan.
I suggest that you read this thread where this topic is discussed and eplained.
Apr 12, 2016, 10:24 am
#35
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: ARN
Programs: Mucci Entry Level, BA Gold, EK Pleb, SK Pleb, QR Pleb
Posts: 3,585
Apr 13, 2016, 2:04 am
#37
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 8,948
Apr 24, 2016, 8:22 am
#39
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: BAEC Silver, HHonors Silver
Posts: 42
I'll be flying OSL-DOH-BKK and return during Ramadan with QR in J. Does this mean that while alcohol will be available during both flights, there won't be pre-departure drinks (even on the flights originating from Oslo and Bangkok)? Also, will the A380 bar be in full-service (with alcohol) during Ramadan?
Thanks,
Flying Chimp
Thanks,
Flying Chimp
Apr 24, 2016, 8:49 am
#40
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,944
Flying Chimp pre departure alcohol is available as usual from any destination that has alcohol service during Ramadan. Besides DOH there are a number of destinations, mostly regional, that have no alcohol service during Ramadan. Service in the A380 bar follows the same guidelines.
Apr 24, 2016, 8:55 am
#41
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: BAEC Silver, HHonors Silver
Posts: 42
Flying Chimp pre departure alcohol is available as usual from any destination that has alcohol service during Ramadan. Besides DOH there are a number of destinations, mostly regional, that have no alcohol service during Ramadan. Service in the A380 bar follows the same guidelines.
OSL-DOH - Pre departure alcohol
DOH-BKK - No pre departure alcohol
BKK-DOH - Pre departure alcohol
DOH-OSL - No pre departure alcohol
And the A380 bar will be in full alcohol service for both DOH-BKK and BKK-DOH?
Apr 25, 2016, 8:48 am
#43
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Join Date: Sep 2009
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Posts: 100,404
Is water included in the prohibition against eating and drinking in public? If so, would the options for a drink of water be just one's own hotel room? How about in a lavatory? Could you openly carry a bottle of water around with you on the street, or should it be hidden during the daytime?
Apr 25, 2016, 9:29 am
#44
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,944
MSPeconomist water is a liquid and thus forbidden during fasting.
A lot depends on how 'in public' is to be read. Does it mean public places or in front of/sight of a member of the public or what? Perhaps a Qatari member of this forum can explain what it means.
For instance I can hardly imagine a more private place than a toilet cubicle. But let someone who knows give us the information.
A lot depends on how 'in public' is to be read. Does it mean public places or in front of/sight of a member of the public or what? Perhaps a Qatari member of this forum can explain what it means.
For instance I can hardly imagine a more private place than a toilet cubicle. But let someone who knows give us the information.
Apr 25, 2016, 9:38 am
#45
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,404
MSPeconomist water is a liquid and thus forbidden during fasting.
A lot depends on how 'in public' is to be read. Does it mean public places or in front of/sight of a member of the public or what? Perhaps a Qatari member of this forum can explain what it means.
For instance I can hardly imagine a more private place than a toilet cubicle. But let someone who knows give us the information.
A lot depends on how 'in public' is to be read. Does it mean public places or in front of/sight of a member of the public or what? Perhaps a Qatari member of this forum can explain what it means.
For instance I can hardly imagine a more private place than a toilet cubicle. But let someone who knows give us the information.