Arabic coffee and coffee houses decline in popularity in UAE
Arabic coffee (prepared with cardamon and presented with dates) and traditional coffee houses are declining in popularity in the United Arab Emirates in favor of American-style and Turkish-style coffee and coffee houses. The reason seems to be as much the coffee houses as the coffee. The traditional Arabic coffee houses are perceived as noisy and unfashionable. For more, see here.
Posted by David Fahey on December 1, 2007 at 10:21 AM in Coffee, Drinking Spaces, United Arab Emirates | Permalink
Ramadan offers perfect time to quit smoking
Arab News reports that "Ramadan Without Tobacco" — an exhibition sponsored by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health opened on Monday as part of a national campaign against smoking.
A similar quit smoking campaign was launched in conjunction with Ramadan in the United Arab Emirates. The Khaleej Times reports.
Posted by Cynthia on September 27, 2006 at 11:17 AM in Religion, Saudi Arabia, Tobacco, United Arab Emirates | Permalink
Ah, the old 'I accidentally got drunk, accidentally drove a car, and accidentally killed a man excuse'...works every time
A drunk driver in Abu Dhabi who caused the death of one of his friends and injured another when his car overturned has had his jail term upheld on appeal. The Federal Supreme Court upheld the lower court's ruling which found the driver guilty of "accidentally" killing his friend. He was ordered to pay fines to the victims families and to serve one month in jail. He will also receive 39 lashes and his driver's license will be suspended for six months.
Gulf News reports.
Posted by Cynthia on March 14, 2006 at 02:16 PM in Alcohol (miscellaneous), United Arab Emirates | Permalink
Ramadan helps kick smoking
Khaleej Times reports from Abu Dhabi that the daytime ban on public smoking during Ramadan is helping many to keep away from cigarettes and probably kick the habit, even as sale of cigarettes in most of the city's supermarkets and groceries have plummeted by more than 50 per cent.
The daily number of puffs of many smokers have been cut to almost half. But while many are cashing in on the Holy month to kick the tobacco habit, a few actually add on to their daily quota of cigarettes after breaking the fast.
Many small groceries told Khaleej Times that cigarette cases are hardly moving out of their shelf since the advent of Ramadan.
Posted by Cynthia on October 15, 2005 at 03:33 PM in Religion, Tobacco, United Arab Emirates | Permalink