Meet The Non-Muslims Serving Iftar To Thousands Of Citizens In Dubai Who Are Fasting

These non-Muslim visitors and residents of Dubai can rest and return home after a tiring day, but instead, they spend their afternoons cooking iftar spreads for thousands of people in the Naif neighborhood of Deira.

Suresh Kumar Marimuttu, an Indian expat, has been doing it for six years. He gets up at six a.m. to go to work, logs off at one o’clock, goes home, and then leaves again at four o’clock to volunteer for the magnificent iftar that the Iman Cultural Center, which is located next to the Lootah Mosque, hosts every day.

“I am already drained by the time I reach home from work. But the moment I arrive at the venue for volunteering, all my fatigue disappears. I am relieved of all stress and tiredness,” said the resident, a volunteer registered with Dubai’s Community Development Authority (CDA).

Suresh leads a team of mechanics at a logistics company, and although his job is hectic, he always finds time to help. “During Ramadan, I prioritize serving guests at the grand Iftar in Deira.”