Business for some restaurants has slowed down dramatically in the holy month of Ramadan, according to operators of these establishments. They said some eateries have even closed because of a lack of customers. “Most of the restaurants serving the Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities are almost out of business during Ramadan because families prefer to cook at home, rather than eat outside,” said Babu, operator of an Indian restaurant near the Seiko area in Dammam. “Exclusive family setting and private ambiance, rather than being in public, is always preferable during the holy month, hence business for us is practically dead,” he said. Even workers on single status are not patronizing restaurants at this time of the year, the co-owner of a Bangladeshi restaurant in Dammam told Saudi Gazette. “Most workers prefer to break their fast in makeshift tents set up by Islamic charitable organizations because the food there is free, and in addition lectures on Islam are provided as well,” he said. After breaking the fast and tired from the day's work, most workers retire to their respective accommodation, watch television, and spend time cooking their own meals. As a result they do not go out to eat in restaurants. Eating at home, cooking favorite dishes, and spending the hours until dawn watching television or visiting with friends has become a tradition for people who are fasting. “Spending the night at home with family members and friends, who bring home-cooked food, is always a pleasurable experience for us which we look forward to every Ramadan,” said Ahmed, a travel executive in Dammam. “Cooking is also fun, so why go outside to eat in restaurants or in hotels during this holy month?” Ahmed said Ramadan traffic jams also discourage families from going out to eat in restaurants. “If you are fasting, and have taken your Iftar, you will not have the energy or desire to go out to eat in a restaurant. Preparing home-cooked food with the family is best,” he said. While Filipino restaurants are also facing a slowdown in business, there are still some customers at Filipino eateries in Dammam and Al-Khobar, according to Rolando Ocampo, general manager of the Asia Restaurant at the Al-Danah Center in Dammam. “Half of our customers are still coming to break the fast, and many take their dinner in their favorite restaurants to end their day,” he said. Some elite Filipino restaurants are even requested to serve catered meals to groups of Filipino families or associations, which helps to compensate for the drop in the number of customers. “Unlike other ethnic restaurants, Filipino restaurants still have customers during Ramadan, though not as many as during other months of the year,” Rolando added. Big hotels are also not receiving the expected number of customers despite promotions devised by the public relations departments of these establishments. Offers of discounts for companies to hold Iftar for their employees at hotels have received less interest than expected, according to the sales manager of a five-star hotel in Al
