by Sana Bun
Ramadan Traditions Across the Middle East: What Unites And What Is Unique
8 Jan 2026
Exploring Ramadan traditions in the Middle East is one of the easiest ways to understand how the region comes together to mark the occasion. While fasting is shared, each country adds its own rhythm, flavours and visual style. Many newcomers want to know how Ramadan is celebrated in the Gulf, how customs differ between countries and what gives each culture its own character. This guide brings together core Ramadan customs in Arab countries, looks at Ramadan in the UAE, Saudi, Egypt, Lebanon, and highlights both shared practices and unique Ramadan traditions found across MENA.
What brings the region together
Several habits form the foundation of Ramadan traditions that bring the Arab world together. Families gather for Iftar, communities focus on charity, and evenings feel noticeably livelier once fasting ends. Across the region, dates and water open the meal, followed by soups, rice dishes and sweets.
Television and music shape the atmosphere as well. Ramadan music, TV, and decorations in different Arab countries often follow familiar patterns: themed series, traditional songs and crescent-shaped lights in city streets. These shared elements help explain why the month feels instantly recognisable across borders.
How Ramadan is celebrated in the Gulf
Understanding how Ramadan is celebrated in the Gulf helps introduce the month’s rhythm in some of the region’s fastest-growing cities. The UAE and Saudi Arabia in particular observe long-standing customs while adapting to multicultural communities.
UAE: Majlis gatherings and community tables
Iftar customs in the UAE combine Emirati tradition with international influences. Families begin with dates and laban before serving dishes such as harees, thareed, machbous and luqaimat. Many neighbourhoods set up community Iftar tables, and hotels host large Ramadan tents. After sunset, waterfronts, souqs and cafés stay active late into the night, reflecting how the country blends modern life with heritage.
Photo: Slashio Photography
Saudi Arabia: Night souqs and family traditions
Ramadan traditions in Saudi Arabia centre around family gatherings, late-night visiting and well-known Hijazi dishes. Homes prepare sambusa, jareesh and saleeg, and dates from Madinah are widely used for breaking the fast. Night markets — popularly called Thuluth Al-Layl souqs — stay open into the early hours, and communal Iftar tables appear across cities. The country also leads the region in religious programming and seasonal TV shows, which shape evening routines.
Egypt: Lanterns, street Iftars and festive food
Egypt is home to some of the most recognisable regional customs. Egyptian Ramadan lanterns and food traditions include the fanous lantern, widely believed to date back to the Fatimid era. Streets fill with colourful decorations, and many neighbourhoods host Mawa’id Al-Rahman, large street Iftar tables open to anyone. Meals often feature fattah, molokhia, mahshi and qatayef, and Egypt remains a major producer of Ramadan TV dramas watched across MENA.
Ramadan in Lebanon: Lively evenings and Levantine dishes
Ramadan in Lebanon blends family meals with a strong social scene. Beirut and Tripoli come alive after Iftar, with cafés reopening late into the night. Households prepare kibbeh, fattoush, lentil soup and sweets such as znoud el-sit and mafroukeh. Decorations tend to be subtle but stylish, particularly along older streets and coastal areas. Cultural events, charity initiatives and community projects also shape the month.
Photo: Afif Ramdhasuma, Artistic Frames, Masjid Pogung Dalangan
Ramadan celebrations in Qatar and Oman
Ramadan celebrations in Qatar and Oman highlight Gulf heritage. Qatar maintains the musaher tradition — drummers who walk neighbourhoods to wake families for suhoor — and children celebrate Garangao halfway through the month. Popular dishes include machbous, harees and luqaimat.
Oman observes long-established traditions centred around family gatherings, homemade sweets and late-night souq visits. Mosques and community halls play a central role throughout the month.
What makes Ramadan unique in each Arab country
Understanding what makes Ramadan unique in each Arab country means looking at how shared values take different forms:
- UAE
- Saudi Arabia
- Egypt
- Lebanon
- Qatar
- Oman
Together, these illustrate cultural differences in Ramadan across MENA while showing how the month remains a unifying experience.
Photo: Masjid Pogung Dalangan
Most popular Iftar foods in the Middle East
The most popular Iftar foods in Middle East traditions include dates, soups, rice dishes and sweets, yet each region adds local favourites. The Gulf features harees, thareed and luqaimat; Egypt brings qatayef, kunafa and fattah; Lebanon offers hummus, fatteh and a wide range of pastries; and Qatar and Oman serve machboos, harees and halwa.
These dishes highlight the diversity of Ramadan customs in Arab countries, showing how local flavours give each community its own identity while fitting into the broader rhythm of the month.
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