I was in Iran during Ramadan, and have spent a lot of time in the Gulf, where they fanatically enforce laws against eating in public during daylight hours, etc. Except for a handful of hotels, it is impossible to get any food during the day time in Dubai, for example (and Dubai is by FAR the most liberal city in the Gulf region). In Iran, I quickly learned that "closed" restaurants (shades drawn, "closed" sign displayed" would let you in if you knocked, and you would often find more than a handful of people eating. Generally speaking, I found the Iranians liked to keep up the appearance of compliance, whereas the Gulf Arabs are absolutely fanatical about forbidding "un-Islamic" activiities, including things like couples holding hands in public.