ramadan and 14 year old visitor help!

There is a coupons book given at the cimena in MOE, where you can have special offers for some of the places you listed. So it looks like it's open during the day and you can even have a special deal. MOE usually have Sezam open during the day. It's like a food court, but actually is the restaurant of the hotel, so I guess it's why they keep it open, while you can't have anything open in Mirdiff CC or Deira CC (just take away). The reason they can't always give you an answer, is because they don't know themselves... a friend of mine has a restaurant which does delicatessen and bakery (so take away) and every year, he has to ask and negotiate.. This year, they first said he can't even sell any takeaway, but he managed to have the authorisation for take away...All depends of the location, etc... Last year, if I'm right, cinemas were open during the day, and actually, were a good time to enjoy movies with almost nobody in the room. You can't know Ramadan timings in advance, as they are said by the Iman on the same day. So you won't have anybody willing to answer to you. But the timings are easy to know if you are able to go roughtly : Muslims shouldn't eat between sunrise and sunset, so check the hours of sunrise and sunset and you'll know roughtly the timings. It can change a little, but would be just a few minutes. Please, be sure your visitor understand that it is prohibited to eat and drink in public, but he still can carry a bottle of water and drink in the toilets, or a quite place, being sure nobody can see him. I have some friends who enjoyed going to the cinema last year, and were carrying their own food in their bags, so were able to have the pop-corn while watching the movie as they were the only one in the room. (yet be careful!) I can be a great idea to do an iftar, it will be a good experience for your visitor and definitely, something to tell when he's back ;) Also, mosques are open to visitors during Ramadan and there are special groups doing iftar and inviting foreigners to join them and speak about Islam, and culture, etc... might be also something different to do :)

So normal confusion rules again. I expect the hotel restaurants and cafes will probably be open as I don't think they are usually classed as public areas. It will be a case of wait and see.

Just to add - a 14 year old wont be classed as a child with regard to eating and drinking in public. Please makes sure he is aware that he CAN'T eat or drink.... :)

All the play places and cinemas r normally open. Wild wadi and Atlantis r ok and will serve food. Last 4 years moe has a food court open opposite the hotel all curtained off. I was told mcc will have one food court open. I suppose we will find ou when Ramadan starts.

Possibly the reason you could not obtain any information is that there seems to have been an about turn in allowing screend off areas for non Muslims to eat before sunset. GN today "While DED had granted permission to some restaurants last Ramadan to allow them to serve food before iftar, such permission had [b'>not been extended to any establishments this year[/b'>, Al Falasi said. "We did grant this permission to [a'> few restaurants last year after designing certain decoration in the restaurant that would cover the dining area but this didn't work. We received many applications from different restaurants in Dubai offering better decorations, but [b'>all have been disapproved," the official added[/b'>. http://gulfnews.com/business/retail/restaurants-urged-caution-while-serving-food-parcels-1.844818 So it would seem that if all resteurants follow this directive there will be no where to eat out during fasting hours.