The holy month of Ramadan is upon us, and people all over the world are gearing up to take part in a period of celebration, connection, reflection and prayer.
With millions of Muslims the world over celebrating the holy month, Ramadan has been a dominate search term on Google globally over the past few days.
Search traffic around the term increased ten-fold in the seven days leading up to the official start of Ramadan on Tuesday, when Google's worldwide search data shows it peaked. The most search traffic came from the UAE, followed by Qatar and the Maldives.
Here’s what else people have been searching for this Ramadan:
Ramadan quotes
On the first day of Ramadan, global search traffic for Ramadan mubarak quotes was up by more than 2,200 per cent, as people looked for messages to send to their loved ones and followers to mark the start of the holy month. In the UAE, there was a 1,150 per cent increase in search traffic for the same term.
Ramadan greetings
In a similar vein, there was a mass increase in searches for Ramadan greetings, as people searched for the correct terms and phrases to extend their best wishes to their Muslim friends celebrating the holy month. Around the world, there was a 2,200 per cent increase in search traffic around that term over the past seven days, and a 1,500 per cent increase across the UAE.
Ramadan parking
In the UAE, one of the most-search Ramadan terms over the past seven days has been around free parking. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the RTA amends parking charges to allow people to park for free in certain locations at certain times. In Dubai, for example, there will be free parking during iftar times, with some exemptions, while in Abu Dhabi, public parking will be paid between 9am-2pm, and 9pm-2:30am. It will remain free on Fridays. UAE search traffic rose by more than 2,800 per cent.
Ramadan wishes
Much like the first two terms, searches for Ramadan wishes were up by 2,200 per cent in the UAE, and 3,150 per cent around the world. The Maldives, Pakistan and Mauritius had the most search traffic around this term, followed by the UAE and Qatar.
Need to know
Unlike other mobile wallets and payment apps, a unique feature of eWallet is that there is no need to have a bank account, credit or debit card to do digital payments.
Customers only need a valid Emirates ID and a working UAE mobile number to register for eWallet account.
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Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
