In Good Faith What's the Point of Ramadan Tent Project [#12 Highlight]
Feb 21, 2026
Omar Salha, founder and director of the Ramadan Tent Project, leads a UK festival and Open Iftar initiative that creates public Ramadan experiences. He discusses RTP’s journey from pop-up iftars to landmark venues, making Ramadan relatable to wider communities, festival programming and arts, and building inclusive spaces that boost pride and belonging.
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Open, Relatable Mission
- Ramadan Tent Project's mission is to bring communities together to deepen understanding of Ramadan by being open to all.
- Omar Salha emphasizes relatability and soft power as key to changing perceptions and building bridges.
Explain Practices Relatably
- Explain cultural practices in relatable, practical terms rather than only citing tradition.
- Use everyday examples (like dates raise glucose after fasting) to make customs make sense to outsiders.
From Iftar To Cultural Festival
- RTP has evolved from single open iftars to a multi-venue annual festival combining arts, talks, and architecture.
- The festival frames Ramadan as both a spiritual practice and a cultural event to widen appeal.