A keyword to add to one's Arabic vocabulary at this time of the year is iftar, which means buka puasa, writes AZLINA ALI.

IN Dubai, breaking fast is traditionally with dates and a drink of water, juice or milk. Except there is no sirap bandung, sugar cane, lin-chi-kang or soya cincau! Instead, drinks here have exotic names and the ignorant among us will blindly take a sip.

Risky, but in the desert sun where temperatures average 42ºC in the day, who can blame us? There’s qamaruldeen (apricot), gamet jallab (grape extracts with rosewater), karkadeh (hibiscus) and tamarhindi (tamarind juice).

This year’s Ramadan issue of expat magazine Time Out Dubai, listed the “top 10 must-try iftar dishes”. Though it is only my second Ramadan in Dubai, I am pleased to note that I have tried at least two thirds of the recommendations.

Last year, to acquaint ourselves with the iftar, we went to the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding at the historic Bastakiya in Bur Dubai, where narrow lanes weave around houses with traditional architecture of wind towers and courtyards.

Visitors sat around a spread of typical Emirati dishes like harees (thick porridge of meat and cracked wheat), tharyd (meat and vegetable stew served over thin slices of bread) and khamir (the sweetest of desserts served with date syrup or honey).

As the azan called out to the faithful to break their fast, dates and gahwa, spiced Arabian coffee, were offered. The men were invited to perform the Maghrib prayers and to adjourn to the roof top.

This was an inspirational moment as it offered a view of the Dubai creek and the silhouette of minarets against the dusk, a setting that elicited a reflective and spiritual sense.

The evening continued with the meal and a dialogue session where visitors asked questions regarding Emirati culture, topics that range from daily practices and festivities to the more personal “what do the men wear underneath the kandoor (full length, white shirt-dress)?”.

Though I had long given up Ramadan buffets in Kuala Lumpur, I succumbed to it in Dubai. Prices average AED150 (about RM150) but you can expect to pay AED400 at more celebrated hotels.

The buffet spread at Sheraton Jumeirah.

We went to Sheraton Jumeirah, swayed by the ratings in the media and the inviting thought of the gentle breeze from the Arabian Gulf and the view of the setting sun to accompany our lavish iftar.

I could not fault the ambience and the extravagant décor but I was a tad disappointed over the limited array of Arabian cuisine. The buffet was extensive, serving up both western and eastern cuisine but there was only a small selection of Arabic main courses. Still they were delicious, particularly lamb ouzi, stuffed with rice, spices, nuts and sultanas.

I tried Mogeribia (chickpeas and chicken) but my tastebuds weren’t accustomed to the texture of the somewhat bland dish.

There were kebabs galore but the fare was not much different from the other restaurants.

The iftar routine is very much the same as in Malaysia but of course the selection of dishes differs. Sorely missed is the Ramadan bazaar.

Here in Dubai fasting is a greater challenge, bearing in mind the weather. However with every iftar there is greater appreciation and realisation that, as we savour the simpler foods, there lies the greater pleasures in fasting.

Malaysian Azlina Ali is an expat wife living in Dubai.