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Jeddah - Yasmine El Tohamy - RIYADH: Ramadan in Saudi Arabia is a time when families come together to strengthen their family bonds, celebrate the holy month, and rekindle their spirituality.

Family is an important cornerstone of culture in Saudi Arabia, and during the holy month, various activities exclusive to Ramadan are embraced.

Traditionally they maintained multi-generational households, but this has changed in recent times. Many people take advantage of Ramadan to visit their families and gather everyone for iftar under one roof.

Hind Khalid, a Saudi woman from Riyadh, expressed her excitement while grocery shopping in preparation for the holy month.  “Family gatherings are the spirit of the month of Ramadan,” she said.

The emotional bond that develops during Ramadan gatherings creates a closeness among people and reinforces the significance of family ties.

Khalid added: “It represents so many things to me. It is a chance for me to connect with people I have not seen for a long time due to work and busy lifestyle.”

People enjoy sharing simple acts, like the joy of breaking the fast and expressing gratitude for the blessings they have received. Gatherings also offer the chance to connect over meaningful conversations.

In addition, people also share experiences in acts of worship, fostering a deeper sense of empathy and understanding among family members. Many families perform nighttime taraweeh prayer in groups or visit their neighborhood mosque together. These prayers cultivate a sense of spirituality and unity at the same time.

People also like to recite the Qur’an and gather for storytelling with older members of the family. These activities allow older generations to share wisdom and knowledge with younger family members, strengthening intergenerational bonds and preserving cultural and family heritage.

Speaking about the traditions in her family, Khalid said: “Some of the activities that we enjoy with the family during Ramadan are family games and religious competitions with motivating rewards. For example, there is a prize for the person who completes reciting the entire Qur’an during the month or the person who participates the most in the kitchen.”

Some of the activities that we enjoy with the family during Ramadan are family games and religious competitions with motivating rewards.

Hind Khalid, Riyadh local

Hanan Hammad, another Saudi woman, shared some of her family traditions. “Sometimes we play card games or online group games. Or, we organize a Qur’an memorizing competition for children, to encourage them to read the Qur’an,” she said.

Charitable activities are also valued by many during Ramadan. Some families schedule a day to gather and collect donations for the less fortunate or contribute to local charity organizations. Others prepare and pack meals to distribute to neighbors and those in need.

These acts of kindness and generosity show the value of compassion in the community, and set an example for younger generations.

Ramadan is also a chance to enjoy traditional Saudi dishes like jareesh, saleeg, and tharid with the family. Cooking and enjoying traditional dishes together not only enhances the bonds of family and community, but also celebrates the rich culinary heritage of the Kingdom.