• Shoppers wearing face masks enter and leave the food court at Mall of the Emirates in April, 2020. The authorities normally require food outlets in malls to screen off dining out of respect to people fasting, but the measures have been relaxed this year. Pawan Singh / The National
    Shoppers wearing face masks enter and leave the food court at Mall of the Emirates in April, 2020. The authorities normally require food outlets in malls to screen off dining out of respect to people fasting, but the measures have been relaxed this year. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Screens are erected outside Scarbucks in Mall of the Emirates in Dubai in late April 2020, a day after the city's lockdown was lifted. Pawan Singh / The National
    Screens are erected outside Scarbucks in Mall of the Emirates in Dubai in late April 2020, a day after the city's lockdown was lifted. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A food court at Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai in April 2020. This year, food outlets are not required to screen off dining. Pawan Singh / The National
    A food court at Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai in April 2020. This year, food outlets are not required to screen off dining. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Shoppers wear masks as they walk through Dubai Mall during Ramadan 2020, just days after the city lifted a stay-home curfew order. Reuters
    Shoppers wear masks as they walk through Dubai Mall during Ramadan 2020, just days after the city lifted a stay-home curfew order. Reuters
  • Various restrictions have been gradually lifted in recent years as Ramadan moved earlier into busy tourist season. Reem Mohammed / The National
    Various restrictions have been gradually lifted in recent years as Ramadan moved earlier into busy tourist season. Reem Mohammed / The National

Ramadan 2021: Dubai restaurants can serve food without screens or curtains


Rory Reynolds
  • English
  • Arabic

Latest: Ramadan 2021 start date announced in UAE

Food outlets in Dubai are not required to serve food out of public view during fasting hours this year.

Dubai’s Department of Economic Development (Dubai Economy) announced the decision on Sunday.

Screens and curtains that were previously used, particularly in malls, are no longer needed.

"Restaurants will be allowed to serve customers without putting in place curtains, dividers or facades as has been the mandatory practice previously," the authority said.

"Restaurants are also not required to obtain a permit for serving food to customers during Ramadan fasting hours.

"The new circular replaces circulars issued in previous years that have required restaurants to block dining areas from the sight of those who are fasting."

In the past, food and beverage outlets, including bars and restaurants in hotels, would remain closed until the fast was broken at sunset.

In recent years, those restrictions were lifted and food outlets typically remained open throughout the day. Even licensed premises and bars can open, as long as they ensure patrons are respectful, there is no live music and entertainment is kept to a minimum.

The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index

The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index

Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.

The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.

“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.

“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”

Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.

Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.

“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.

The specs

Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder MHEV

Power: 360bhp

Torque: 500Nm

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Price: from Dh282,870

On sale: now

Results

Catchweight 60kg: Mohammed Al Katheeri (UAE) beat Mostafa El Hamy (EGY) TKO round 3

Light Heavyweight: Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) no contest Kevin Oumar (COM) Unintentional knee by Oumer

Catchweight 73kg:  Yazid Chouchane (ALG) beat Ahmad Al Boussairy (KUW) Unanimous decision

Featherweight: Faris Khaleel Asha (JOR) beat Yousef Al Housani (UAE) TKO in round 2 through foot injury

Welterweight: Omar Hussein (JOR) beat Yassin Najid (MAR); Split decision

Middleweight: Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) beat Sallah Eddine Dekhissi (MAR); Round-1 TKO

Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammed Ali Musalim (UAE) beat Medhat Hussein (EGY); Triangle choke submission

Welterweight: Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) beat Sofiane Oudina (ALG); Triangle choke Round-1

Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) beat Saleem Al Bakri (JOR); Unanimous decision

Bantamweight: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Nawras Abzakh (JOR); TKO round-2

Catchweight 63kg: Rany Saadeh (PAL) beat Abdel Ali Hariri (MAR); Unanimous decision

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

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MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
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The Ashes

Results
First Test, Brisbane: Australia won by 10 wickets
Second Test, Adelaide: Australia won by 120 runs
Third Test, Perth: Australia won by an innings and 41 runs
Fourth Test: Melbourne: Drawn
Fifth Test: Australia won by an innings and 123 runs

Red Sparrow

Dir: Francis Lawrence

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Egerton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Irons

Three stars

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