A quarter of Arab Muslims surveyed said they thought restaurants should be allowed to remain open in the day during Ramadan, according to a new study.

However, 98 per cent of those questioned said they were themselves fasting during the holy month.

Fifty-three per cent of respondents - including those in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan and Morocco - thought all restaurants should be closed during the daytime.

But five per cent disagreed and another 20 per cent strongly disagreed - saying they should be allowed to open to serve expats.

Tradition

A fifth of the 4,335 people questioned even said that expats should be allowed to eat and drink in public.

However, 61 per cent said they should not.

The study, conducted by Maktoob Research, was carried out just before the beginning of Ramadan and canvassed the opinions of adult Muslims from across the Arab world.

It aimed to examine the attitudes and perceptions of Ramadan traditions and practices.

Nearly two thirds of respondents, 57 per cent, believe in the time-honoured moon-sighting method to calculate the start of Ramadan, while 54 per cent preferred to follow the scientific declarations of scholars.

Eighty-nine per cent of those surveyed classified Ramadan as an annual lesson in self-restraint and discipline, while 67 per cent believed the Holy Month allowed them a sense of solidarity and brotherhood with fellow Muslims.

However, 63 per cent felt that the holy month was becoming too commercialised.

Special

The survey also revealed that 89 per cent preferred to celebrate iftar (the first meal of the day after sundown) at home with their families, compared to only 44 per cent of those polled last year.

A total of 76 per cent said they would read the entire Quran during Ramadan, while 66 per cent would attend nightly prayers.

Another 77 per cent said they intend to do something special for their loved ones during Ramadan or Eid Al Fitr, including giving money (Eidyeh).

'We set out on this study to determine what residents in the Middle East felt about the holy month of Ramadan,' said Maktoob Research general manager Tamara Deprez.

'The survey's findings have clearly displayed that the Arab world retains a strong bond with the rich traditions and practices associated with the holy month.

'Respondents also look forward to this special time of the year to forge stronger ties with loved ones and share in the spirit of Ramadan with fellow Muslims.'

Deprez said a significant difference in this year's survey was the fact that more people were choosing to celebrate iftar at home compared to last year - possibly as a result of the economic downturn.-TradeArabia News Service