Fasting changes how you drink. For 13 hours or more you take nothing in, then you have a few hours of night to catch up. Most people get the food part right. The water part is where it usually goes wrong.
Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February, depending on the moon sighting. That puts it in the cooler months, with fasts of roughly 13 hours in Dubai. Cooler days help, but you still lose water through breathing and sweat, and you still lose salt with it.
Why hydration gets harder in Ramadan
The window is short. Between iftar, prayers, family and sleep, there isn't much time to drink. People tend to gulp a lot of water at iftar, then forget about it until suhoor. Your body can only use so much at once, so a large amount in one go mostly ends up in the bathroom.
Two habits make it worse. Strong tea and coffee at suhoor push you to pass more water. Very salty or fried food at iftar makes you thirsty for the rest of the night.
When to take electrolytes
Never during fasting hours. Everything below happens between iftar and suhoor.
Break your fast with water and dates, as most people do. Wait until after the main meal for an electrolyte drink. Taking it then, rather than on an empty stomach, is easier on your gut and gives your body time to absorb it before bed.
Have a second one at suhoor. Pair it with a glass of plain water and food with some water content: yoghurt, cucumber, watermelon, oats. That combination tends to carry you further into the next day than water alone.
A simple night plan
- Iftar: one or two glasses of water with dates.
- After the meal: one electrolyte sachet in 500 ml of cold water.
- Through the evening: a glass of water every hour or so, rather than a litre at once.
- Suhoor: a second sachet in water, plus water-rich food. Keep tea and coffee small.
A common target is around two litres across the night. Spread it out over the evening instead of drinking most of it at iftar.
Who should check with a doctor first
If you have diabetes, kidney disease or high blood pressure, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or take regular medication, talk to your doctor about fasting and about electrolyte drinks before Ramadan starts. Some conditions need a tailored plan.
Choosing a drink for Ramadan
Look for a sugar-free option. The iftar table already has plenty of sugar, and you don't need more in your glass. Check for caffeine too, especially for the suhoor serving, since you'll want to sleep afterwards.
At PERCUP we stock Humantra, a Dubai-founded brand. Each sachet has all six main electrolytes plus vitamin C, vitamin B12 and zinc. It has no sugar or caffeine and 5 to 10 calories. The fruitier Berry Pomegranate and Elderberry sit well after a heavy iftar. Himalayan Lime is lighter for suhoor. Browse the full range in electrolytes and hydration.
Ramadan Kareem from all of us at PERCUP.
This article is general information, not medical advice.
