Thousands of people have taken part in a revival of the decades-old tradition of holding an iftar gathering in the narrow lanes near Dubai’s old Gold Souq.
The annual charity event organised by the Iman Cultural Centre began during Ramadan in 1976, but was put on hold for the past three years because of Covid-19 safety measures.
This year, it is allowed to give food to the public during the holy month, but anyone doing so needs permission from Dubai's Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (Iacad).
The move is part of the authority’s efforts to ensure that the food is safe and meals are being distributed across a variety of places.
In a return to normality, people are back in full force at Deira’s Lootah Mosque where about 4,000 free meals are served daily in the spirit of the holy month. Another 1,000 boxes of kanji broth are distributed in the emirate’s Muteena area.
Kanji has lots of health benefits for those who are fasting. It has natural ingredients and it is easy to digest
Jagir Hussain,
chef
“In 1976, when the cultural centre was established, only 200 people would attend our iftar,” said PSM Habibullah Khan, president of the Iman Cultural Centre.
“Today, more than 4,000 people end their fast at the Lootah mosque.
“We used to have 20 volunteers back then and now we have 80 volunteers who come together after work to distribute meals.”
The meals are sponsored by Ali Rashid Lootah, a prominent businessman in Dubai, he added.
In the past three years, when gatherings were not permitted, the cultural centre distributed iftar meals in various areas of Dubai.
“People are happy to be back,” said Hameed Yasin, general secretary of the Iman Cultural Centre.
“The joy is evident on their faces.”
Taste of south India
The highlight of the iftar meals is the special kanji broth, which stays true to the original flavour from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
The nutritious porridge is prepared using rice, minced meat and spices.
At 4.30pm, people patiently wait in a kilometre-long queue to receive containers of the aromatic off-white broth to take home.
At the same time, volunteers spread out an orange and blue tarpaulin on the winding lanes surrounding the mosque. The 500ml plastic containers filled with kanji are placed on the ground along with servings of oranges, dates, water and samosas or fried snacks.
Mohammed Shafi, a maintenance worker from Bangladesh, has been attending the iftar event for the last 25 years.
“I love the meal that’s served here, especially kanji,” he said.
Twenty-eight ingredients are used to prepare the kanji in large aluminium pots in a kitchen in Sonapur.
Seven people start preparing the ingredients at 7pm. The staff come back at 5am the next day to cook the porridge and they are not finished until 11am. Another 13 people fill the broth into plastic containers and load the boxes onto trucks at 3pm.
About 3,000 litres of kanji are prepared every day, using 150kg of meat, 180kg of rice and 105kg of lentils. Other ingredients include coconut, tomatoes, onions and garlic, as well as spices such as bay leaves, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon.
Jagir Hussain, the main chef in the kitchen, arrived from Tamil Nadu along with two other chefs this year just to prepare kanji during the holy month.
“Kanji has lots of health benefits for those who are fasting,” said Mr Hussain. “It has natural ingredients and it is easy to digest.”
The porridge is a Ramadan favourite back in Tamil Nadu, he added.
The nutritious kanji has attracted thousands to the grounds in Deira, from tourists to workers and businesspeople. Some of them have been ending their fast at the Lootah Mosque for decades.
Mohammed Zaver, a painter from Bangladesh, has been in attendance for 20 years.
“The last three years I collected an iftar box daily during Ramadan and ended my fast at home with two or three friends. But this year, I am happy to be able to eat with people from all walks of life. We also offer Maghreb prayers together at the mosque.”
About 100 people are seated inside the mosque and another 3,900 have to find a spot on the tarpaulin sheets outside.
Shihabudheen, from the Indian state of Kerala, works as a salesman in one of the stores in the area. He sat with a group of friends on the tarpaulin.
“I have been ending my fast on these streets for eight years,” he said.
“I have missed the gathering. I usually arrive early and chat with people around me.”
At sunset, when the call for prayer is heard, thousands of boxes of kanji are opened at once.
Soon after, worshippers enter the mosque for maghrib prayer, often with new friends they met at the gathering. They come together in the spirit of Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.
“People tell us that we are offering a great service and they thank us. But actually, we want to thank them for giving us a chance to serve them,” said Mr Yasin.
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Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Rashford 36')
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Man of the match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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