Rooftop Iftar brings calm Ramadan evenings to Palm West Beach

Frenia Rooftop Lounge at voco Dubai The Palm has introduced a composed rooftop Iftar offering for Ramadan 2026, positioning the experience as a quiet counterpoint to the city’s more crowded evening dining venues. Set above Palm West Beach, the lounge is presenting an Iftar designed around open views, measured pacing and a menu that changes nightly, aimed at guests seeking an unhurried way to observe the holy month.

Perched above the shoreline on Palm Jumeirah, the rooftop setting frames the Iftar around sunset views across the Arabian Gulf, with the elevated location lending a sense of distance from the bustle below. The atmosphere has been shaped to reflect the reflective character of Ramadan, using low lighting, traditional lanterns and understated seasonal décor rather than spectacle. Soft Arabic instrumental music plays through the evening, reinforcing a mood that is intended to feel calm and restorative rather than theatrical.

The dining format centres on a buffet that evolves over the course of the month, with a rotating selection intended to encourage repeat visits. Guests begin the evening with a spread of hot and cold mezze, before moving through live cooking stations that prepare dishes to order. Grilled items, saj breads and desserts are assembled in front of diners, allowing the meal to unfold gradually rather than arriving all at once. The structure mirrors the rhythm of Iftar itself, where conversation and reflection sit alongside food.

Frenia Rooftop Lounge has arranged its seating to maintain a sense of space, with tables positioned to maximise views while avoiding the compressed layouts common to seasonal Ramadan tents. The open-air design encourages longer stays, with the organisers emphasising that the experience is meant to accommodate families, groups of friends and corporate gatherings without rushing guests through the evening. Service is paced deliberately, aligning with the intention to keep the setting relaxed.

Priced at AED 250 per person, the Iftar is positioned within the mid-to-premium range of Ramadan dining offerings on Palm Jumeirah. The price includes access to the full buffet and live stations, without tiered add-ons or time restrictions beyond the service window from sunset to 9pm. This approach reflects a broader trend among hotels on the Palm to simplify Ramadan packages, focusing on consistency and atmosphere rather than layered promotions.

The launch of the rooftop Iftar also aligns with voco Dubai The Palm’s broader positioning as a lifestyle hotel rather than a traditional resort. Located directly on West Beach, the property has increasingly focused on experiences that appeal to residents as much as visitors, particularly during seasonal periods such as Ramadan when dining habits shift towards communal evening gatherings. Frenia Rooftop Lounge, already known for its Mediterranean-inspired menu outside Ramadan, has been adapted for the holy month without altering its core identity.

Hospitality observers note that rooftop venues have gained prominence during Ramadan in Dubai, especially along beachfront districts such as Palm Jumeirah and JBR, where outdoor dining remains comfortable in the early evening. Elevated settings offer both ventilation and visual separation, qualities that have become more valued as guests look for quieter alternatives to enclosed banquet halls. The emphasis on rotating menus and live preparation also reflects changing expectations, with diners increasingly seeking variety over the course of the month.