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Starving during Ramadan

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1403

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 04 August 2011 - 16:51

Thats what annoys me about this place though... there are so many shades of grey and leaving it up to the individual officer is just 'so Dubai'. I agree though, I doubt an officer would punish a pregnant woman for discreetly eating.

671

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 04 August 2011 - 16:44

I asked again on the Ask an Emirati FB page, and they confirmed that there is *no* legal exemption for pregnant and bf mums. However, they suggested that the police are likely to look favorably on obviously pregnant mums :). Head on over to their FB page for their full response. xx

477

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 04 August 2011 - 15:54

agree with fairycakeyumm. you'd be surprised to find out how tolerant most locals are with regards to ramadan, but because it's the law .. it is what it is.

fairycakeyumm21878

2239

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 04 August 2011 - 15:27

My dh is surrounded by locals at work and they smoke still during ramadan ... Most of them are no way offended by expats drinking eating n smoking in front of them during Ramadan they all know they are not fasting... The only reason the restaurants close because they have to pay thousands to get a licence.....can't even feed the kids in mini monsters because they couldn't get a liscence ...

kiwispiers15400

2782

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 04 August 2011 - 15:10

yes sorry that's what I meant, I asked last year and no-one knew. You can get up to 3 months in jail here in Doha if you are caught eating or drinking (and I think even smoking) in public during Ramadan but no-one really knows if the law applies to pregnant/breastfeeding mums.

671

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 04 August 2011 - 12:50

It is definitely law in the UAE that you cannot eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight hours. This is widely reported in the papers, and is contained in advice given to UK residents here by the UK consulate for example. The confusion seems to be whether there is a legal exemption to the eating in public rule for pregnant/breastfeeding women. I have been told (by the staff at "Ask an Emirati") that there is no exemption. However, I believe that they are not lawyers. I would very much to see legal clarification on this, as it obviously affects many people every year.

kiwispiers15400

2782

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 04 August 2011 - 12:15

but does anyone actually know the law on it?

477

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 04 August 2011 - 11:33

i'm 18 weeks and surrounded by fasting muslims in the office. i asked the question and one guy's response to me was "only idiots will tell a non-fasting muslim/christian/whatever that it's wrong to eat in public. it is our religion, our will-power should be strong enough to withstand looking at you eating your sandwich." i've been in egypt during ramadan and they dont close restaurants or hang curtains ... it's business as usual. i have respect for those around me because i know there are a lot of people who will over-react to me drinking/eating - i'm not doing it willy nilly - but when i'm hungry or thirsty, i will eat and drink. i have the picture of my last scan with me and if someone cant see my bump, i'll take it out and tell them to shhhhh. and i will not eat in a toilet. fully agree with another poster, it is gross. btw shellly, all turned out so well in the end (re: cvs)

205

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 03 August 2011 - 21:37

Actually I guess carrying a snack bar in my handbag and then ducking into a change room is a good idea. I didn't see much that was open and curtained off in MOE today. I saw some places that were open for take away only. I couldn't stomach the idea of eating in a toilet anyway. My DH used to make a coffee for me while I was in the shower in the morning and sometimes he would bring it into the toilet and leave it on the counter for me until I told him (nicely)...no food in the toilet please and that includes drinks. He still makes me a drink in the morning, now it's Roobios tea, but he leaves it on the kitchen table:)

kiwispiers15400

2782

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 03 August 2011 - 21:16

I don't think the law applies to children, but I've never seen an adult local eating or drinking, even if pregnant, breastfeeding etc. Truly I'm not sure of the law, I asked this question just before last ramadan and nobody really knew, but in Doha at least there are penalties if yo get reported, so I didn't risk it, eating in toilets is gross, but better than in jail I guess. If the shops are open you can always duck into a changing room etc.

784

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 03 August 2011 - 20:50

With pregnant ladies, do eat and drink discreetly. at a closed door coffeeshop. please don't eat in the toilet, it's simply gross. You can drink in your car. With kids, there is no such thing as they have to eat/drink discreetly. And also, please please please don't feed them in the toilet. I have seen an arabic child eating openly in car4 while his mom is doing their grocery shopping. NO one is their right mind will tell a child off for eating or drinking in public. :)

1403

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 03 August 2011 - 20:13

I'm confused - I always thought that pregnant and breast feeding women were exempt? Obviously neither would openly eat a big fat hamburger in public, but nonetheless if they were seen to be discreetly eating then can they seriously get in trouble? my interpretation was that too - the same for children - as long as you do so discreetly and not stroll down MotE chomping away on a big brownie! Realistically though, there are plenty of places that you can nip into for a snack or a drink and if you're in your car, driving around, then the likelihood of anyone glancing at you long enough to see you nibbling is small. Yeah, there are places to be discreet. Just saddens me that so many of these women are forced to eat in toilets, as a lot of people advise.

Hello.Again.Kitty

1861

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 03 August 2011 - 20:06

I'm confused - I always thought that pregnant and breast feeding women were exempt? Obviously neither would openly eat a big fat hamburger in public, but nonetheless if they were seen to be discreetly eating then can they seriously get in trouble? my interpretation was that too - the same for children - as long as you do so discreetly and not stroll down MotE chomping away on a big brownie! Realistically though, there are plenty of places that you can nip into for a snack or a drink and if you're in your car, driving around, then the likelihood of anyone glancing at you long enough to see you nibbling is small.

1403

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 03 August 2011 - 19:56

I'm confused - I always thought that pregnant and breast feeding women were exempt? Obviously neither would openly eat a big fat hamburger in public, but nonetheless if they were seen to be discreetly eating then can they seriously get in trouble?

429

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 03 August 2011 - 19:51

Legally u are not allowed to eat, but hey! if u are going to faint, i dont think anyone, including the police are going to arrest u for the same. As long as you arent sitting in the middle of the road eating a double beefburger, fries and milkshake and waving at everyone, i think you should be fine to take a quick bite every now and then :) And if u get stopped, just tell them u are pregnant.. a fasting cop cant really arrest a pregnant woman can he? :D

671

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 03 August 2011 - 17:52

I have been given to understand that legally no-one is allowed to eat and drink in public (whether you are fasting or not). So please be careful.

Hello.Again.Kitty

1861

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 03 August 2011 - 17:26

You shouldn't have to justify yourself, but hey, sometimes you may have to. I would just eat discreetly - maybe in your car if you're driving (being very careful and concentrating on the road of course! ;) ). There are also a good few places open, albeit behind curtains, where you can duck in and recharge.

kiwispiers15400

2782

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 03 August 2011 - 17:22

My baby was born last Ramadan and I felt the same with breastfeeding, I just ducked into toilets etc and ate muesli bars. Non-muslims are exempt from fasting anyway, its more about doing it in front of people.

205

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 03 August 2011 - 16:57

I'm in the early weeks of pregnancy so not showing yet but I'm already finding that it's necessary to eat smaller meals more frequently to stave off feeling dizzy/nauseous. I know that pregnant women are exempt from fasting etc. but the problem is that I'm not showing yet so I'm worried that if I eat or drink that people will get angry with me. I always eat something before I leave home but driving all around Dubai and running errands takes time and I usually start to run out of fuel in my stomach before I reach home again. Are any of you that aren't showing yet eating in public during the day?

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