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Ramadan in UAE: Less sleep can cause lack of concentration, accidents, experts say
Residents should watch out for warning signs like loud snoring, excessive daytime napping, which could be caused as a result of lack of sleep
- PUBLISHED: Tue 11 Mar 2025, 6:22 PM
Loss of sleep during Ramadan could cause several health issues including lack of concentration and even cause accidents, according to experts. One doctor explained that many people suffer from insufficient sleep syndrome during the month.
“What people are suffering from Ramadan is mostly insufficient sleep syndrome,” said Dr. Mutaz Labib, Consultant Pulmonary and Critical Care Disease and head of Sleep Lab at Clemenceau Medical Center Hospital. “They wake up late and have sleep disruption during the month. So, in the morning, they suffer symptoms like lack of concentration, memory problems, fatigue, tiredness, laziness and urge to nap during the daytime.”
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He added that previous studies have shown that loss of sleep could contribute to causing accidents as people tend to fall asleep at the wheel.
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Many of those who fast during Ramadan, often wake up before dawn to eat the pre-fasting meal called Suhoor. Factors like special nightly Tharaweeh prayers and family gatherings often contribute to the lack of sleep among UAE residents.
According to Dr Abithraj, Internal Medicine Specialist at Al Futtaim Healthhub Clinic in Discovery Gardens, Ramadan could result in reduced sleep quality, moderate levels of insomnia and higher than normal excessive daytime sleepiness.
“Studies have demonstrated that Ramadan fasting results in a reduction of sleep duration of an average 1 hour,” he said. “These effects are more profound in sedentary individuals when compared with physically active individuals.”
He added that this could result in headaches, mood swings, cognitive issues and may cause in weight gain.
Data from 2024
Wearable company Whoop said that their 2024 data showed a drop in sleep performance and recovery scores during the month of Ramadan as compared to the previous month. A recovery score tells how ready the body is to handle stress each day.
“Good sleep is the key to recovery and performing well,” said Stephan Muller, the company’s GCC Marketing Director. “Changes in daily routines during Ramadan, such as later bedtimes and early mornings, affected Whoop members’ sleep patterns with data showing they slept fewer hours and experienced less consistent sleep, likely playing a role in lower recovery scores.”
He added that during Ramadan, recovery scores were also impacted by changes in eating, drinking, and sleep routines making it harder for the body to restore and recharge.
However, he added that the strain recorded for Whoop users was lower during Ramadan as compared to the pre-Ramadan period. "Strain measures how much effort your body puts in throughout the day,” he said. “During Ramadan, people naturally took it easier — likely adjusting workouts and daily movement to match changes in eating and sleep schedules."
Warning signs
Dr. Mutaz said that people should watch out for warning signs which could be caused as a result of lack of sleep. “If you have snoring, and especially loud snoring, that's a big sign it could be something that needs attention,” he said. “Most of our clients are brought in by their wives because if you sleep alone, no one knows whether you're snoring or not. So that is a task on partners.”
He added that the tendency to have excessive daytime napping should also be taken seriously. “When you have excessive daytime sleepiness or tiredness, you must go and see a specialist,” he said. “During a sleep study, we attach electrodes to the brain and heart. We also attach an EMG line to measure the muscle activity overnight and place sensors in the nose and mouth to check breathing. So sleep study is really a health test. It can discover a lot of things.”
Dr Abithraj said that it was important for those fasting to maintain good sleep hygiene during the month. “Choose a quiet dark space and avoid device usage at least 60 minutes before sleep,” he said. “Avoid sugary foods or caffeine intake at least 4 hours before sleep and stick to a routine sleep habit ensuring 4-5 hours sleep before suhoor.”
