Ramadan is Coming

Today, I saw quite a few of my neighbours entering the lift carrying lots of shopping bags. They are planning to spend Ramadan back in their home countries, and the custom is that they must return laden with gifts.

That the gifts were produced in their home country, exported to the UAE, and are now being purchased and carried back in overburdened suitcases is beyond the point: they must return with gifts.

And, in some cases, for reasons which escape me, prices in the UAE are actually cheaper than where the goods are produced, so this custom actually makes a modicum of sense.