Pre-Ramadan Celebrations

When you hear about pre-Ramadan celebrations, you’d think about people getting together or some sort of religious ceremony or some pre-Ramadan festival.

But I ain’t talking about those.

I’ve been receiving “invitations” for pre-Ramadan parties. Yes you heard it right. Some people here consider Ramadan to be a horrible month where they can’t freely drink booze in public and have sex on the beach. And you’d see them after Ramadan all lining up outside the clubs as if they’re waiting for welfare.

Seriously? This is the image Dubai is portraying to the world?

Hurry up before it’s too late! The Ultimate pre Ramadan Party! All the Booze you can drink!

Thrilling!

So some of the expats come here, ruin the economy, make fights in pubs (if you’ve lived here for a week you’d know), drive off bridges drunk (that was a hilarious incident though) and basically become walking zombies at 3-4 AM if you happen to be sober on the roads to watch them. Some of the Arabs are not any different either; I’ve seen one too many people I know who run alternate lives.

And here’s a treat. Hollywood.tv featured a Plastik party (a weekly beach party held here where you can drink/dance between 3 PM to 3 AM next day) and it’s now on YouTube.

I love the guy who says “this isn’t just the best party in Dubai, but the whole Gulf!!”

I doubt he’d seen any other of the Gulf countries.

Here’s the video. Watch and learn.

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Posted in: dubai

32 Responses to “Pre-Ramadan Celebrations”

za3tar mumbled on August 8th, 2008 at 12:58 am

Ahh …. this is just sad !!
I was also shocked when i read last year that Christmas decorations and jubilation were much more visible than those of the Eid El-Adha even though they were both there at the same time. What’s the point if Dubai does not want to have a unique identity of its own :-( !!

Also, i’m sorry but i can’t swallow the first part of your opening sentence …. “When you’d hear about …” this just does not work … please please drop the first “apostrophe d”

Danke Schön!



KJ mumbled on August 8th, 2008 at 1:18 am

Za3tar -
Yup… that is true. They celebrated Christmas better. They try to cater to the 80% expat population but lose identity too.
Typo fixed :)



za3tar mumbled on August 8th, 2008 at 1:28 am

KJ -
Thanks for fixing that typo … i think your OCD is starting to rub off on me. Today i checked the door knob like 8 times before i left home :-) .. i blame both you and moogle for this ;-p

On the subject, it is weird why they do that ? I mean, they could celebrate Christmas and Eid at the same time, i don’t see any problem in that, and they certainly have the money to do that. I am personally against the commercialization of religious holidays, but if you are going to fill the town in celebration for one thing, you might as well also fill it for the other .. eh i hope they fix that one day … KJ, tell them to fix that please ;-p



hisham mumbled on August 8th, 2008 at 1:30 am

they are preparing themselves ??!!!!
what can I say!!!! :emotion:



Qwaider قويدر mumbled on August 8th, 2008 at 3:32 am

Interesting! Looks like the parties that used to take place in Amman back in the 90’s!



asoom mumbled on August 8th, 2008 at 4:31 am

Dude, some of those scene look strikingly similar to the welcome “backyard barbecue” party on campus today but without the alcohol.



Hala mumbled on August 8th, 2008 at 5:06 am

I really fail to see the meaning or purpose behind the video. I mean seriously, this is sad.

Tons of parties take place everywhere anyway, why the focus on this one? I feel like it is sending us a hidden message. Feel free to guess what it is people.

I hope rulers are happy now with their ‘cool’ accomplishments!



Batoul mumbled on August 8th, 2008 at 6:17 am

Unfortunately, we always fail to understand the concept of improving onto our culture IF it needed any improving to begin with. Instead of looking deep into our rich culture and re-embellishing it we lower our standards into habits so surface level that lack appeal. There’s no way to justify this, its pure shameful.

On the other hand, there’s always a bright side. This is not where my inspiration dies, it flourishes on the better of things:
مشروع 100 يوم إلى رمضان



KJ mumbled on August 8th, 2008 at 9:59 am

Za3tar -
Welcome man LOL! Oh Don’t worry they commercialize Ramadan pretty big. When it comes to Eid/Christmas they focus on the latter because it is one day only whereas Adha is celebrated by the slaughtering of thousands of sheep in other Emirates (most notable Sharjah) so that the expats in Dubai don’t call us murderers (those poor sheep!). In any case, rest assured they cash in during Ramadan significantly. In fact inflations happen during Ramadan. Last year it shot up 40%. We’re stocking up on chicken from now.

hisham -
Main problem is that they expect us to respect their culture when they don’t respect ours. I don’t mind really these parties - they happen all year long. What upsets me is that the treat our religious month of Ramadan as a hindrance to their culture.



KJ mumbled on August 8th, 2008 at 9:59 am

Qwaider -
Sounds like fun LOL! They’re probably the same people just switched venues. The issue here isn’t the party itself.

asoom -
Yeah a party is a party wherever you go. The point is that they’re portraying Dubai as this on the show. It isn’t about the party itself.

Hala -
True, I didn’t want to focus on the actualy party (it takes place weekly among other parties anyway) but ont he fact that the show portrays Dubai as such. The hostess called it “meet the nice people of Dubai”. It’s a clear message. In any case cultural respect should me mutual. Read my reply to Hisham.

Batoul -
They can have the parties, 3adi, it is their right. Thing is they need to respect our culture like we do theirs. Instead of taking Ramadan as a hindrance to their parties. It doesn’t show respect. Another point is that the show highlighted that this is what Dubai is. And it isn’t. Thanks for the link



Ms Loala mumbled on August 8th, 2008 at 2:07 pm

This is so sad. I almost cannot believe that a gulf country would do such thing! :\
Damn those Arabs who are blinded with the concept of ‘ advanced globalization’ … idiots.



dandooneh mumbled on August 8th, 2008 at 3:49 pm

Pre-Ramadan , w PARTY kaman .. !!! this is the first time i hear about such a thing !!! 3anjad ishi mot5alif ,injanat el-3alam ..
this is Dubai to the world .. !!!



Noura mumbled on August 8th, 2008 at 4:21 pm

It looks like a party on a Florida beach but sleazier.. You know Dubai has been on the news here almost every single night this past week.. They looked deeply into every aspect from construction, to how socially opened it is and welcoming to forgeiners..They even said it is unfortunate that it is located in a tough neighborhood !!
Allowing this only show that we got the meaning of takadom w 7adara all backward..and you are right everbody thinks that this what Dubai is all about, unfortunately …



Angelo mumbled on August 8th, 2008 at 7:43 pm

Pre-Ramadan party? Now, I’ve seen everything. Even though I recently went to Dubai for one week, I’m familiar with zombies that roam the streets at dawn, and most of them are indeed Arabs!!

So, can we assume that you won’t be attending one anytime soon? No judging of course, I’m all for freedom of choice and expression.



KJ mumbled on August 8th, 2008 at 10:50 pm

Ms Loala -
What can we do except be thankful we’re not among them

Noura -
Aham shi that it is in an inhospitable location. Suits the US well, an Arab country has been “converted”. But I actually have faith cuz even though this is the image being portrayed and this is what I see here as a citizen, I know there is a lot more on the other side as well. Just like any major city in the world it has to cater to its residents’ likes and dislikes. It’s just that Dubai pretends to be too “hospitable” compared to other major cities. Thankfully the other emirates are much much more conservative.

Angelo -
They’re quite a sight aren’t they! No I won’t be attending these parties. I never got a liking to them.



أمنية mumbled on August 9th, 2008 at 12:36 am

funny



Shaher mumbled on August 9th, 2008 at 1:53 am

Pre-Ramadan… not that weird, coz really do u think that Ramadan is considered as a Holly month !!!?? all that we do is eat as much as we can, sleep, eat, watch TV, eat again, and go out !!. So i guess going to a Pre-Ramadan party would be like a new tradition that you may see not only in Dubai, and whats wrong with a party like the Plastik one, if ur envited to one then hope that u’ll enjoy it :D



KJ mumbled on August 9th, 2008 at 8:32 am

أمنية -
sad!!!

Shaher -
It is holy or not holy depends on what a person as a Muslim utilizes it. Some people (well, a lot) do as you said, others do a mix and others do it proper. There’s nothing wrong with the Plastik party, everyone is entitled to enjoy their time the way they see fit. I didn’t complain about the party itself but rather how it was used by the media to portray what Dubai is about. In any case I don’t go to such parties anyhow



Verbal Alchemy mumbled on August 9th, 2008 at 9:30 am

3asimet il feseq and fejour of the Gulf! God i hate this. i was born and raised here and it sickens me what the city has come to.. 10 years ago il 3alam kan 3anda shwayet 7aya… to quote my better half: “tfeh”!



Abed Hamdan mumbled on August 9th, 2008 at 1:15 pm

لا والناس بلوموا التكفيريين اللي بيعتبروا كل الدول العربية كافرة !!الواحد مش عارف وين الصح صار…

بس بيني وبينك, الله لا يحرم العرب من التخلف بس , والله لابقلنا لشو هالحكي !



kinano mumbled on August 9th, 2008 at 11:14 pm

HEY! DO NOT INSULT US NON-SOBERS!

:evil: :evil: :evil:



Abdullah A mumbled on August 10th, 2008 at 1:30 am

Dubai is slowly but surely inching towards moral bankruptcy. Would you expect anything less in a city that utilizes prostitution as a driving force of economy? Where prostitutes freely roam roads under the watchful eyes of policemen, and whorehouses operate in broad daylight, thinly disguised as ‘massage parlors.’

Pre-Ramadan parties are a non-crimes compared to the real enormities plaguing this city.  Not that these parties aren’t atrocious in and of themselves.



Hani Obaid mumbled on August 10th, 2008 at 1:39 am

Not surprising I actually know people who drink all year, and during Ramadan, they stop, start fasting, and even praying all in the name of social acceptance. There’s no limit to hypocrisy!



KJ mumbled on August 10th, 2008 at 7:11 am

Verbal Alchemy -
It is becoming a professional Sin City.

Abed Hamdan -
Shayef… el moshkeleh 3anna naq9 bel sha59iyyeh w menfakker lazem nkoon metel gheirna

Kinano -
infidel :P

Abdullah A -
I don’t care about the party itslef - they can do whatever they want. However it is the fact that Dubai is publicly portrayed through these parties rather than the other things that make it Arab. And I am not talking about camels.

Hani Obaid -
I am not surprised too my friend. Each to their own - if you wanna be a hypocrite don’t do it at my expense. I’m pissed at how the country is portrayed to the outside world rather than being pissed at the party itself



sel3 mumbled on August 10th, 2008 at 10:18 am

call me an infidele, but I liked the party in the clip, a little sleazy but who cares :evil:



KJ mumbled on August 10th, 2008 at 10:21 am

sel3 -
LOOOOL! Man it isn’t about the partyyyyyyyyyy party all you want! I don’t want this country to portray itself to the world as only that! LOL! bas still… INFIDEL!



Lujayn mumbled on August 19th, 2008 at 3:40 pm

KJ, I dont know what comes before and after the segment in the video clip but the party doesn’t seem to be claiming to be what Dubai is about - its claiming to be the best party in Dubai :))  The problem lies in the fact that Dubai doesn’t seem to be about anything other than what you see in the clip.  It’s not a question of false portrayal – it is what it is.  I differ with you that this is a foreign thing – many of the people in the clip are actually Arabs. We might say these aren’t really Arabs, cause they don’t fit into our definition of what it means to be Arab or what Arab culture is about, but they are. And there are enough of these people on the streets and in the malls and restaurants and clubs to say that their interpretation of Dubai is just as valid as anyone else’s, if not more.



KJ mumbled on August 19th, 2008 at 3:51 pm

Lujayn -
Welcome to my blog!

I am not saying that the video is explicitly telling people this is what Dubai is about. What I am saying that this is what is chosen to show the world!

Regarding them being Arabs or not, I mentioned that Arabs are also as guilty in this as the westerners. What I am referring to though is that in such a free city people tend to have the illusion they can do as they please - be it westerners or Arabs.



Lujayn mumbled on August 19th, 2008 at 4:03 pm

The ability to do as they please is not an illusion - its a fact. But let me ask you then, KJ, what would you choose to show to the world about Dubai? I keep hearing about this alternative Dubai identity but have yet to see it.



KJ mumbled on August 19th, 2008 at 4:13 pm

Lujayn -
Dubai is like any major city in the world, and the “alternate” identities are present if you wish to look for them and find them. What would I want to show the world about Dubai? Nothing, so that they don’t come and add more traffic :)



Yazan mumbled on August 27th, 2008 at 9:46 pm

Hahaha!
Did that TV reporter, scream ‘I’m plastered’ at the start of the video?



Retrotrut mumbled on September 5th, 2008 at 1:29 am

Wow, those people have gone nuts



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