For non-Muslims, there is an initiative and a platform that enables them to have a deeper understanding and appreciation of the prohibitions exercised during the holy month of Ramadan and to respect and abide by the same.  
Providing a perfect platform to learn everything about Ramadan in Qatar, Embrace Doha, a community initiative, is hosting ‘Embrace Ramadan’ session for expatriates before the start of the month of fasting early June. The session to be hosted in traditional settings in a Qatari house near police station in Souq Waqif on June 4 is an orientation about Ramadan before it starts. Embrace Doha has made arrangements to provide individuals, companies and organisations with interactive sessions around the theme of Ramadan, whether before the holy month, or during, in the form of a traditional suhoor.
“This session is all about Ramadan. Most expatriates when they arrive here, they are not aware of the laws regarding observing Ramadan here. This session is designed to explain the concept of Ramadan to non-Muslims and what they should do in this month in Qatar,” Ashok Choudhary, Communications Manager, Embrace Doha tells Community. 
“We will first explain to them each and every concept related to Ramadan in Doha, why and what to follow and the laws related to Ramadan such as prohibition of eating in public during the month and much more that the expatriates need to know,” added Choudhary.  
The session will be held in a traditional Qatari setting where the participants will also have a chance to observe the traditional Qatari suhoor, containing traditional local cuisine. The participants of the workshop will have the chance to try on the traditional Qatari dresses as well.
The presentations session at Embrace Doha events is usually complemented with a dinner comprising different Qatari dishes. After the dinner, the platform is opened for questions where the participants can ask questions on any aspects of the Qatari culture for better understanding.
Embrace Doha is the first service provider of its kind in Qatar, offering a range of cultural services that cater to the needs of newcomers, expatriates, and visitors alike. “We aim to become the primary cultural resource for anyone interested in learning more about our fascinating country,” say the organisers.
The services can be tailored for companies and individuals. The Embrace Doha team of professional consultants possesses in-depth knowledge about the Arabian Gulf region in general, and Qatar, in particular, and will guide participants in acquiring a better understanding of the region’s lifestyle, customs, and business etiquette.
The platform aims to provide an outstanding range of cultural services that cater to the needs of clients, both businesses and individuals in Qatar. It intends to provide residents, newcomers, and visitors with sufficient cultural awareness to understand and effectively interact with Qatari society.
The mission of Embrace Doha is to introduce their clients to the values, principles, customs and traditions of Qatar and the Gulf region, to create healthy cross-cultural dialogue between Qataris and non-Qataris based on mutual respect and understanding.
It also aims to reduce misunderstanding, faux pas, and embarrassment when interacting with Qataris besides encouraging tourism in Qatar by familiarising their clients with the country’s landmarks, history, and future ambitions.
To remain true to its values, Embrace Doha believes Qatar must balance five major challenges, modernisation and preservation of traditions, the needs of this generation and the needs of future generations, managed growth and uncontrolled expansion, the size and the quality of the expatriate labour force and the selected path of development and economic growth, social development and environmental management.

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