The holy month of Ramadan has started. This month requires our Muslim brothers to abstain from eating food, drinking, and doing a number of other behavioral, leisure, and pleasurable habits from sunrise to sunset. While the latter is a rather easy thing to do, abstinence from food and drink is where usually the struggle begins, especially during the first few days of Ramadan.

Fasting tests and enhances the endurance levels of your body and eating healthy food and having a work out regimen additionally helps strengthen and shape your body. I'm a non-Muslim but since I've been living in the UAE, I practise abstinence as a sign of respect to our Muslim brothers. I've also been in the fitness industry for years now, so I've come up with these 5 ways for staying fit and healthy which will hopefully help ease the challenges one may be faced with during Ramadan.

Being the social butterfly that I am NOT, I usually just go out when I'm with Mark. :p And considering our crazy schedules, Saturdays are the only days that we get to go out. That's also the same reason why I accept an invite only if it falls on a Saturday.

Ramadan is about to end in a little over a week from now. What seemed to have started just a couple of days ago is actually more than halfway through. While I do not observe fasting and abstinence, I make sure to embrace the Ramadan season by joining Iftar invitations. Apart from the feeling of togetherness during Iftar feasts, with generosity being a basic tenet of the month of Ramadan, I enjoy it even more if it's an Iftar for a cause.

While Iftar dishes are undeniably delicious—from starters and Arabic mezze to sumptuous mains and decadent desserts—there's also no denying that most of the yummy ones tend be the unhealthy ones too. But imagine if you can indulge into an Iftar feast minus the guilt...seems impossible, eh?

The holy month of Ramadan is the fourth of the ‘five pillars’ of Islam. Ramadan is marked by a fast, which lasts for the ninth month of the lunar year. The true spirit of Ramadan is not only to fast physically but also to practice faith in righteous manner.

While generosity is considered to be a basic tenet of the month of Ramadan, Holiday Inn Dubai – Al Barsha shares its abundance and blessings with needy each year through its CSR initiative: Break your fast with us and help to feed the needy.

Ms. Roxana Jaffer, CEO of Holiday Inn Dubai – Al Barsha, has pledged that every Iftar meal at The Gem Garden restaurant enables funds to feed FOUR needy persons. Diners of Iftar at The Gem Garden this Ramadan will have the satisfaction of knowing that they have generated a donation to support needy people around the world.

Holiday Inn Dubai - Al Barsha being the member of United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) practices 12 of their 17 sustainability goals in helping to transform the world. Below are the list of UNGC goals practiced by HIAB:

   •   No poverty
   •   Zero hunger
   •   Good health & well-being
   •   Quality education
   •   Gender equality
   •   Clean water and sanitation
   •   Affordable and clean energy
   •   Decent work and economic growth
   •   Reduced inequalities
   •   Sustainable cities and communities
   •   Responsible consumption and production
   •   Partnerships for the goals

This initiative is part of our endeavor to make the world a better place for everyone.

With our strong desire to feed the hungry and play a humble role in eradicating poverty, please join our hands at The Gem Garden, this Ramadan to share from our abundance and blessings.

Holiday Inn Dubai – Al Barsha launched the “Loves You Campaign” in 2007 as part of the hotel’s endeavor to go beyond the bottom-line to demonstrate Corporate Social Responsibility. The backdrop of the campaign “Life isn’t worth living unless its lived for someone else” has allowed the hotel to inculcate within the staff members an ethos of giving and making a difference in the lives of others who they can see are less fortunate than themselves.

‘Loves U Campaign” is unique in its appeal that all members of the staff, regardless of rank, color or creed, come together to achieve its objectives. The backdrop being Prophet Mohammed’s (PBUH) words ‘Life is only worth living if lived for someone else’ helps to inculcate an ethos of giving of themselves, of putting another person’s needs before oneself, that in turn reflects into service accorded to the guest that in turn helps to deliver the business objectives.

In the eight year’s since its initiation, the hotel staff have triumphantly held numerous awareness and fund-raising drives under this remarkable campaign thus providing, in their own small way, to building civil society in the UAE whilst aiding the needy.

“With your help, we have been able to feed 250, 000 children through the World Food Progamme. Our goal for 2016 is to support emergency food assistance in most needed countries. In –house guests can help us to feed starving children around the world by making a voluntary donation of AED5 upon check-out to feed 5 hungry children. In 2014 we had emergency food assistance delivered to 16, 500 people affected by the conflict in Syria. In 2013 we provided 115, 000 packs of high energy biscuits to the victims of typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. In 2012 we donated 74, 165 school meals around the world. This year, 2016 up to Ramadan, we have managed to sustain over 50,000 people who suffered in the Nepal earthquake. Our work continues ....”

Diners can experience the true spirit of Ramadan while enjoying a sumptuous Iftar buffet at The Gem Garden for only AED 109 per person with special rates for bookings of 10 persons and above.

The Gem Garden at Holiday Inn Dubai - Al Barsha will be offering a traditional Iftar Buffet featuring a lavish selection of Arabic and international dishes. Guests will enjoy, amongst other culinary delights, a wide array of salads, soups, main courses including grilled items. Making it extra special are refreshing Ramadan juices and a delectable variety of desserts.

The authentic Middle Eastern ambience, beautiful setting and traditional music will further complement the experience of diners at the restaurant.

HOLIDAY INN DUBAI - AL BARSHA
Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Barsha 1
PO Box 115443, Dubai
United Arab Emirates

Ramadan Kareem! It's the time of the year again, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, the holy month of Ramadan. A month-long observance of prayer, fasting, charity work, and of course, Iftar and Suhoor feasts.

A couple of weeks back, I got to indulge into another lavish Iftar buffet, this time at Liwan restaurant in Al Ghurair Rayhaan by Rotana. I was actually invited to the Iftar night for bloggers and media, but it's a weekday and my schedule didn't permit. Good thing Ferry was able to arrange a night for Mark, Cherry, and I on the following weekend.

Along with a not-to-be-missed Iftar promotion at Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek, they have also created a special campaign for social media.

A few stuffed toy camels took a break from roaming the desert to join the sharing spirit of Ramadan. I received mine a couple of days back and named her Cammie. :)

Just when you think that Iftar always has to be an Arabic dinner, Eataly has created a special menu for breaking your fast during Ramadan with an Italian twist . Cherry and I were invited to grace the Iftar preview in Eataly at the Dubai Mall a few weeks back.

We were served with breads and a glass of Jallab while waiting for our orders to be served. As I've read and as what Mark has also been telling me, fasting during Ramadan is usually broken by eating dates first, so I thought having it in a form of a drink was a brilliant idea.

Ramadan is drawing near and is expected to begin in barely a couple of weeks from now. Although we have Filipino Muslim brothers back home, I never really knew anything about Ramadan, except for them having to fast and pray for the whole month. And I, being a Catholic and a first-timer in the UAE, am very much excited to finally get to witness and have a first-hand experience of Ramadan.

I only knew of Ramadan as having to fast for hours until sundown, when everyone then gets to go to prayer, break their fast, and eat. It was only until I got an invite for a pre-Ramadan Iftar (Arabic term for breakfast; the evening meal when Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset) that I knew that breaking the fast would also mean having a feast, an extravagant feast I must add, and that almost all hotels and restaurants here offer sumptuous and lavish feasts for Iftar.

PRESS RELEASE

Pullman Dubai Deira City Centre is ready to nourish you and your loved ones with a variety of offers to enjoy this Holy month of Ramadan.

Gather your family around the table and relish the Ramadan feast for Iftar and Suhoor prepared by Executive Chef Andreas and Chef Mama’s pan-Arabian delights, traditional sweets and savoury delicacies with a Moroccan twist. With its mouth-watering buffet and best family- friendly setting in town, Medley is the ideal place of choice to experience the true spirit of the month.

Prolong your experience at Pullman Dubai Deira City Centre’s Azure lounge by choosing your favorite flavour of Shisha from 13 different options while gazing over Old Dubai’s skyline.