The words and phrases you’ll hear everywhere during the holy month in the UAE, and what they actually mean
From pre-dawn meals to sunset prayers, these are the words and phrases everyone in the UAE is using this Ramadan and what they actually mean.
Greetings and well wishes
Ramadan Mubarak: “Blessed Ramadan”
Ramadan Kareem: “Generous Ramadan”
In practice, people use both these common greetings interchangeably during the holy month
Eid Mubarak: Said at the end of Ramadan for Eid al-Fitr
*Breaking news: Eid Al Fitr 2026 public holiday announced*
Fasting and meals
Suhoor: The pre-dawn meal eaten before the fast begins
Iftar: The meal that breaks the fast at sunset
*Ramadan essentials: Understanding iftar and suhoor*
Sawm: Fasting
Siyam: Another word for fasting, often used interchangeably with ‘sawm’
Prayer-related terms
Quran: The holy book of Islam, which Muslims read, recite, and reflect upon more frequently during Ramadan. Many aim to complete it in full over the month
Adhan: The call to prayer that signals each prayer time
Iqamah: The second call, announcing that the prayer is about to start
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Imam: The person who leads the prayer
Dua: Personal prayers or supplications
Wudu: Ablution before prayer. Ablution is a cleansing ritual that includes washing hands, mouth, nostrils, arms, face, ears, hair and feet. It prepares one mentally and physically ahead of prayer and must therefore be performed correctly
Fajr: The early morning prayer; fasting starts at this time
Maghrib: The sunset prayer, coinciding with iftar
Tarawih: Special nightly prayers performed during Ramadan after the Isha (night) prayer
Charity
Photo: Unsplash
Zakat: Obligatory charity, one of the pillars of Islam
Zakat Al Fitr: Charity given before Eid prayers at the end of Ramadan
Sadaqah: Voluntary charity given at any time
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar and is considered the most sacred time of year for Muslims. From dawn until sunset, Muslims fast each day. That means no eating, drinking or smoking while the sun is up. The month lasts either 29 or 30 days, depending on the lunar cycle.
Mosques hold additional evening prayers, and many people aim to complete reading the Qur’an before the month ends.
Images: Unsplash
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