Ramadan, the month of joy and generosity

The holy month is upon us. This year, Ramadan and Sham El Nessim, and Eid al-Fitr arrive in the midst of a global squeeze on prices. 

This year’s festivities mark a partial return to “normal” after two years of celebrations against the backdrop of the pandemic. Shops, restaurants and cafes will be allowed to stay open, gatherings are back, and event halls at major mosques will reopen.

That said, we’re facing new challenges this Ramadan — including a major squeeze on prices thanks to global inflationary pressures, and uncertainty clouding supply chains for some essential commodities thanks to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Two+ years of pandemic living has seen some of us withdraw into our cocoons, leaving valuable friendships and family relationships long untended — but not forgotten. 

If you’ve been feeling disconnected from those you hold dear, Ramadan is the perfect time to do something about it. Pick up the phone, send that “wahashtuny” text, and arrange to meet around the iftar table. Then leave the devices alone and get stuck into catching up IRL.

The Russia-Ukraine war has exacerbated inflationary pressures, sending food and commodity markets sky high and we’ve inevitably been feeling the impact here at home. In a time of back-to-back crises, it’s perhaps more important than ever to maximize our joy and generosity this Ramadan.

Ramadan is rarely kind to our wallets but this year we’re getting a triple whammy of holidays. This is traditionally a time where people buy more food, dine out more frequently, and donate more than other times of the year. 

But make sure you leave a little something left over for the raft of long weekends coming fast, including Sham El Nessim and Sinai Liberation Day in the last week of April. We’re sure you, like us, will be dying to get out of Cairo after the long holiday drought we’ve had the past couple of months, so don’t forget to budget for your vacation plans.