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IQ learns about different approaches for keeping the industry running in Muslim-majority countries during the holy month for Muslims
News By Eamonn Forde | 24 February 2026
With Ramadan, one of the holiest times for Muslims around the world, underway, IQ speaks to some of the industry players in Muslim-majority countries working to keep the business running.
The Ramadan period, which this year runs from 18 February to 19 March, is characterised by communal prayer as well as fasting between dawn and dusk, with suhoor being the meal eaten before dawn and iftar being the fast-breaking evening meal each day during Ramadan. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan itself.
Because of Ramadan’s focus on family, community, and reflection, certain activities like live music are reduced or put on pause, depending on the country and Muslim communities. The guidelines in different Muslim-majority countries are not uniform, but they all work within particular parameters with regard to what happens to live entertainment.
Cosmin Ivan, CEO of Dubai-based event and ticketing platform Platinumlist, tells IQ that the live music calendar “basically stops during Ramadan” in the GCC (the Gulf Cooperation Council, covering Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman).
“You don’t run loud concerts during the holy month,” he says. “On Platinumlist, ticket sales will be lower than the average month, but that reflects a cleared calendar, not people losing interest.”
Thomas Ovesen, CEO of talent agency All Things Live Middle East, outlines some of the important market nuances here.
“In the Middle East, there are different approaches to events and entertainment in general during Ramadan,” he tells IQ. “In some markets, there is no entertainment at all and even piped music in restaurants is muted, as is F&B service outside of the non-fasting hours.
“In other markets like the UAE and, in particular, in cities like Dubai, some forms of live performances, beyond the forms using local instruments performed after Iftar, can be approved subject to type and format.”
“A significant part of our fanbase is unlikely to want to attend such shows, so why put them on?”
Mark Jan Kaur, VP of the 17,000-capacity Coca-Cola Arena, says “it is business as usual” in Dubai during Ramadan. There is no shutdown of live entertainment, although there will be a marked slowdown in the number of events hosted in the arena during that period.
“There is more of a focus on cultural activities throughout the whole entire city during the holy month of Ramadan,” he tells IQ, noting the venue is permitted to put on all types of shows, but typically they will have to be fully seated, with no standing areas.
Ovesen says some shows during Ramadan may get the green light, but on the condition that alcohol is not served in the venue.
“We take the stance that if a significant part of our fanbase is observing Ramadan and so unlikely to want to attend such shows, why put them on?” he says.
“The holy month is a time of reflection, family, and commitment to faith,” Kaur explains. “So the notion of having a lot of fun, or entertainment-based fun, is a little bit simmered down.” He illustrates this by saying that in January 2026, the arena hosted 23 events (including music and sport), but this will drop to 11 during February and March.
He says, however, that promoters and performers coming to Dubai during Ramadan will need to understand that reachable audiences may be smaller than during the rest of the year. “Just be mindful that potentially some of our target demographic would not feel it is appropriate to be purchasing tickets and attending events like this,” he says.
While there are no restrictions on the types of performers allowed to play during Ramada, he advises people to be culturally sensitive. An act, for example, singing about drug use or a comedian talking about religion, would be considered an inappropriate booking.
“There is strong awareness and cooperation between promoters, agents and artist management when routing tours”
“It’s probably something that we would highly recommend not to take place during Ramadan,” Kaur cautions.
Para Rajagopal, MD of Live Nation Malaysia, says the live business there has “adapted in a constructive and collaborative way” during Ramadan, planning carefully and moving sensitively.
“There is strong awareness and cooperation between promoters, agents and artist management when routing tours around the fasting month,” he says. “As a result, we often see a spike in international activity just before Ramadan begins – for example, we hosted around ten international shows in Malaysia across January and February alone – with many artists strategically scheduling Southeast Asia, India, and the Middle East into their pre-Ramadan runs.”
Ivan says that Muslim customers “shift into planning mode” during Ramadan for live events. “Almost all purchases made during Ramadan were for post-Eid dates for April, May, and June. People still browse, bookmark, and buy tickets. International programming doesn’t disappear. They get announced and put on pre-sale during Ramadan, then scheduled for after Eid.”
He says that during the month of Ramadan, ticketing companies and event organisers will use this time to prepare for the return to full event programming, as customers are planning further ahead than usual.
“Smart operators use Ramadan to get ready for what comes next,” he says. “With the live calendar mostly empty, it’s a month for announcing post-Eid lineups, locking in pre-sales, sorting out logistics – like routing, staffing, and suppliers – and adjusting how they talk to audiences. Communication moving from ‘What’s on this weekend,’ to ‘Plan your post-Ramadan calendar’.”
“Depending on the country, quiet background music in restaurants and public spaces can be allowed”
With some events on pause or reduced, sponsorship and advertising money around Ramadan tends to go towards food-based events. “There’s a huge culinary scene associated with the holy month of Ramadan,” explains Kaur. “Live music probably is not a priority in the commercial space during that period of time.”
Ivan adds, “The activation style shifts. Nobody’s sponsoring a party. It’s values-led partnerships, family and community storytelling, and digital-first touchpoints tied to planning behaviour and pre-sales.”
Not all music will be muted during Ramada, says Ivan, but certain styles will be.
“Live music in the usual sense – concerts, EDM, dance music, late-night entertainment – is paused out of respect for the holy month,” he explains. “Depending on the country, quiet background music in restaurants and public spaces can be allowed, and some venues bring in traditional instruments like the oud or qanun during iftar or suhoor.”
Rajagopal explains what happens in Malaysia during this time. “Culturally appropriate events also take place during the fasting month,” he says. “Religious-themed performances by local and international artists are staged in hotels and smaller venues, particularly after iftar.
“Promoters are mindful to ensure programming is respectful and sensitive to the Muslim community, while continuing to serve Malaysia’s diverse audiences. Following Eid, there is typically a renewed surge in live activity.”
Kaur says that, in the 19 years he has been based in Dubai, he has seen things become more relaxed, but visitors still need to be respectful of the fact this is still a holy and observant period.
“The programming leans into things that fit Ramadan’s reflective atmosphere”
“Just be mindful that during the daytime, things certainly slow down, and working hours are reduced by two hours – and up to three hours for the government,” he says. “Wear appropriate clothing as well. The best way to describe it in Dubai specifically is to be mindful of the cultural sensitivities. But it’s business as normal.”
People will still go out after iftar, says Ivan, but activities tend to be more appropriate for the period.
“What changes is the format and the energy,” he explains. “The programming leans into things that fit Ramadan’s reflective atmosphere, like cultural events, community gatherings, and family-friendly experiences. On Platinumlist, cultural programming and sports with cultural resonance stay active, usually scheduled post-iftar.”
After Ramadan, the live entertainment market “goes from pause to release”, says Ivan. “The main thing to understand is that Ramadan is a month of spiritual focus, and the entertainment market runs at a different tempo. Loud concerts and mainstream live music pause.
“Culturally appropriate evening programming may continue. Cities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman shift later with evenings and late nights becoming the main social window after iftar, and that’s when browsing and planning activity spikes.”
Ivan tells visitors to expect public spaces to be quieter and greater sensitivity around loud music.
“Expect the market to snap back quickly at Eid, with a short holiday followed by a strong return of events,” he says. “If you’re planning tours, venue schedules, or launches from outside the region, consider not doing less. Think about doing it at the right time, with the right tone, and in a way that respects local norms.”
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