On this page
Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin in the UAE on or around Monday 8 February 2027, based on astronomical calculations reported by The National and Khaleej Times. The final date is confirmed by the UAE moon-sighting committee, so the start may move by a day. That leaves a few weeks to get ready, and these Ramadan health tips for UAE residents are a simple place to begin.
The most important step comes first. If you take regular medicines, for example for diabetes or blood pressure, speak to your doctor before you decide to fast. Your doctor can tell you whether fasting is safe for you this year and whether your medicine plan needs to change.
This guide covers the practical health side. Questions about what the fast allows are for scholars to answer.
Ramadan health tips for the UAE: plan before the month starts
A few weeks before the month starts, it helps to work through this list.
- Book a check-up if you have a long-term condition. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) advises a medical check before Ramadan so your doctor can adjust medicine doses and timing, and assess whether you can fast safely.
- List every medicine and supplement you use, including herbal products, and take it to your appointment.
- Ask about exemptions. The International Diabetes Federation and the Diabetes and Ramadan (IDF-DAR) International Alliance note that people who are ill or unwell, including some people with diabetes, can be exempted from fasting. For the religious side, speak to a scholar or imam alongside your doctor.
- Ease into the routine. Cutting down slowly on caffeine in the week or two before can make the first fasting days easier.
- Check your home kit. A working thermometer, and a blood glucose meter or blood pressure monitor if your doctor has asked you to check readings at home.
Medicine timing during Ramadan
Medicine timing during Ramadan should always be agreed with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop, skip or double a dose on your own.
Some general points to raise at your appointment:
- Medicines taken once a day may be moved to iftar or suhoor.
- Medicines taken two or three times a day may need a different plan, or a different product, which only your doctor can decide.
- Some medicines must be taken with food, and some on an empty stomach. Your pharmacist can explain how this fits around iftar and suhoor.
- For inhalers, eye drops, injections and creams, ask a scholar about the fast and your doctor about the medical side.
If you have diabetes
The international Diabetes and Ramadan guidelines (IDF-DAR) advise speaking to your healthcare team before you decide to fast, and agreeing a plan for checks and any changes to treatment. They say checking your blood sugar does not break the fast, and that you should break the fast if your blood sugar falls below 3.9 mmol/l (70 mg/dL), or rises above the level your team gives you. If your diabetes is not well controlled, your doctor may advise that fasting is not safe this year.
Staying hydrated while fasting
Ramadan 2027 falls in February, one of the milder months in the UAE, with shorter fasting hours than summer. Even so, long hours in air-conditioned offices and cars can leave you feeling dry. Staying hydrated while fasting is mostly about spreading water across the evening rather than drinking a lot at once.
- Open the fast with water, then keep sipping steadily until suhoor.
- Go easy on strong tea, coffee and fizzy drinks, which add caffeine or sugar.
- Watch salty foods such as pickles, crisps and some sauces, as they can make you thirstier the next day.
- Water-rich foods like cucumber, tomato, watermelon, oranges and soups add to your intake.
The DHA Ramadan Health Guide lists signs of dehydration such as intense thirst, darker urine, dizziness, tiredness, headache and a dry mouth. If these become strong during the day, speak to a doctor. The DHA also advises not to hesitate to break the fast when necessary to protect your health, and a scholar can advise you further.
Suhoor and iftar: building balanced meals
One of the simplest Ramadan health tips for UAE families is not to skip suhoor. Diabetes advice for Ramadan makes the same point and suggests slow-release starches such as oats, brown rice or wholegrain bread, plus lentils, chickpeas or beans.
| Meal | Helpful choices | Go easy on |
|---|---|---|
| Suhoor | Oats, wholegrain bread, eggs, laban, fruit, water | Salty cheese, very sweet cereals, lots of coffee |
| Iftar | Water, one or two dates, soup, grilled meat or fish, vegetables, rice | Fried snacks, sugary drinks, large portions of sweets |
Eating slowly at iftar and leaving a gap before a second, lighter meal can help with heartburn and bloating.
Vitamins during Ramadan: do you need them?
For most healthy adults, a varied diet across iftar and suhoor provides what the body needs, and evidence that everyone needs extra vitamins during Ramadan is limited. A supplement can be a back-up if your diet becomes narrow.
- Multivitamins are often taken once a day with a meal, so suhoor or iftar can work. Follow the label.
- Vitamin D can run low in people who spend most of the day indoors or keep their skin covered outdoors, which is common in the UAE. Ask your doctor whether a test makes sense before you start a supplement.
- Vitamin B complex products are widely used. Follow the label and do not combine several products without advice.
- Check for interactions. Some supplements can affect how medicines work, so show your pharmacist your full list.
Products to consider at BMG Pharmacy
- Now Daily Vits Multivitamin Capsule 30s a once-daily multivitamin capsule.
- Vitabiotics Ultra Vitamin D3 2000iu Extra Strength Tablets 96s a vitamin D3 tablet supplement.
- Puritan's Pride Complete B Complex Tablet 100s a B vitamin complex tablet.
- Accu-chek Active Glucometer + 50 Strips + 100 Lancet a home blood glucose meter kit with strips and lancets.
- Omron M2 Basic Blood Pressure Monitor an upper-arm home blood pressure monitor.
- Gaviscon Double Action Chew Tab 32s chewable tablets for heartburn and indigestion.
You can see the full range in our vitamins category.
When to see a doctor or pharmacist
Break your fast and get medical help if you notice:
- Dizziness, fainting or confusion
- Shaking, sweating or a racing heart, especially if you have diabetes
- A blood sugar reading below 4 mmol/l, or above the level your doctor set
- Very little urine, or very dark urine, for many hours
- Chest pain, breathlessness or a severe headache
- Vomiting that stops you keeping fluids down after iftar
Call 998 for an ambulance in an emergency. Speak to your doctor before Ramadan if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, older, or managing any long-term condition.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take my regular medicines during Ramadan?
Doctors generally advise continuing prescribed medicines, because stopping them can cause serious problems. The DHA advises agreeing any change to timing with your doctor; a morning dose, for example, is often moved to iftar. Never stop or change a dose without asking first.
When should I take vitamins during Ramadan?
Many vitamins are taken with food, so suhoor or iftar usually works well. Follow the label, and ask your pharmacist if you take more than one product or any regular medicine.
How much water should I drink between iftar and suhoor?
There is no single number for everyone. Spread your water evenly from iftar to suhoor rather than drinking a lot at once, and limit caffeine and salty foods.
Is it safe to fast with diabetes?
It depends on the person, the type of diabetes and the treatment. The IDF-DAR guidelines advise speaking to your healthcare team before deciding, and agreeing a plan for blood sugar checks. If your doctor advises against fasting, you can ask a scholar about the alternatives.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Speak to a BMG pharmacist in any branch or on WhatsApp +971 55 520 8156, or call 800 2647.
Shop the range at BMG Pharmacy, with delivery in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman.
Shop the range