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 wont 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 wont 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 6, 2016, 12:11 pm
#16
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Delta DM, AA EXP, SPG Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 567
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 6, 2016, 10:25 pm
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2015
Programs: BA OWE
Posts: 189
Qatar and Ramadan.
If you leave the airport during Ramadan please remember
1) Alcohol is banned by law during Ramadan
2) It is extremely offensive, and in some Muslim countries a criminal offence, to be seen eating, drinking, smoking and chewing gum in public during the period of fasting
If you leave the airport during Ramadan please remember
1) Alcohol is banned by law during Ramadan
2) It is extremely offensive, and in some Muslim countries a criminal offence, to be seen eating, drinking, smoking and chewing gum in public during the period of fasting
Apr 7, 2016, 6:04 am
#18
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold (and other non-status plastic)
Posts: 1,889
... if I ask nicely, will you sneak me out some Krug? 
Apr 7, 2016, 7:37 am
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,944
Development I do know know exactly but I suspect that hotel esidents and bone fide travellers in certain specially licensed hotels may consume alcohol after sunset.
EchoVictor a muslim day starts at sunset the day before until sunset that day.. The official date for the first day of fasting (the start of Ramadan) is June 6 th. Thus you will miss out on the alcohol.
EchoVictor a muslim day starts at sunset the day before until sunset that day.. The official date for the first day of fasting (the start of Ramadan) is June 6 th. Thus you will miss out on the alcohol.
Apr 7, 2016, 1:04 pm
#22
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,619
Dubai is a lot more relaxed during Ramadan. If sounds like Qatar is similar to Bahrain, where alcohol was completely unavailable.
Apr 7, 2016, 4:08 pm
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,944
Does the room service supplying alcohol apply to all hotels, such as the Airport Hotel?
Apr 7, 2016, 7:52 pm
#24
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2015
Programs: BA OWE
Posts: 189
Management at both hotels said beverage serving unchanged in restaurants and club lounge, what gives? Can't imagine they were not telling the truth!?
Apr 8, 2016, 12:11 am
#25
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: OOL/DOH
Programs: QF LTS WP, Avis Pres Club, HH Diam.
Posts: 3,192
Apr 8, 2016, 12:02 pm
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,944
Development two very different sets of answers to the same set of questions.
1 The hotels alcohol policy is unchanged during Ramadan. True but they diplomatically forgot to add that Qatari law, which forbids the sale and consumption of alcohol in public places during Ramadan has to be obeyed.
2 Beverages are apparently still available in the hotels restaurants and lounges. Note: NOT Alcoholic beverages! Since the restaurants and, unless a private lounge, the Club lounge are public places then no alcohol may be served/sold during Ramadan..
Very diplomatic answers where there were no lies, just a suppression of the qualifying facts.
Apr 8, 2016, 12:22 pm
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,944
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 9, 2016, 6:04 am
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,944
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.
Apr 9, 2016, 11:58 am
#29
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2015
Programs: BA OWE
Posts: 189
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.
Apr 9, 2016, 12:26 pm
#30
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: South East, UK
Programs: BA Gold / GfL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,432
I'm pretty certain that any hotel in Qatar found serving alcohol in public during Ramadan would at the very least lose its license to serve alcohol on a permanent basis. The penalty would probably be harsher!