ABU DHABI // When Fares Fares bought his iPad three years ago, he was disappointed with the limited selection of Islamic applications available.
So he used his engineering background to create his own, a prayer app called Athkar, a user-friendly app for Muslims. What he did not expect was for it to become one of Apple's top apps three years later.
"I thought it was a good idea. At that time there was only one similar application for the iPhone," said Mr Fares, a 39-year-old Emirati from Ras Al Khaimah. "And for iPad no such application."
After a month designing and adding content, the app was made available for free downloading in 2010.
To date, it has 600,000 downloads - mostly during Ramadan.
In the first 20 days of Ramadan this year, it had 20,000 downloads, making it a "Hot App" in the Apple store for the UAE and Arab region.
"I wanted to do it just for people," he said. "I was surprised by the number of downloads. It's a simple, neat design, there's a lack of these kinds of applications."
The app offers daily Islamic prayers and allows users to set prayer reminders and Facebook or tweet prayer times. "It's something good for people," he said.
Many users have thanked him for his "good deed" in creating the app and have been surprised to learn Mr Fares is Emirati and created it from scratch. "My friend said his mother is always using it," he said.
When there were complaints of religious mistakes, Mr Fares bought Tohfat Al Thakireen, written by Mohammed Al Shokani, to make sure prayers were accurate.
In May, he launched a new app, aimed at encouraging charitable donations in the country.
The Khayr app is a list of charity organisations and text numbers to donate to. Mr Fares said the app is constantly updated, most recently to include the Clothe One Million Children campaign sponsored by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
In the past three months about Dh49,000 has been donated through the application, half of it during Ramadan. "It only takes three clicks to donate," he said.
There have been 2,000 downloads of the Khayr app, which is aimed solely at a UAE audience.
Mr Fares has no plan for more apps but he said he had received suggestions. "I was asked to do an Athkar app for children," he said. "I still have to find a cartoonist and see if this is possible."
The apps are available at AthkarApp.com and khayr.net
osalem@thenational.ae
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
Jiu-jitsu calendar of events for 2017-2018:
August 5:
Round-1 of the President’s Cup in Al Ain.
August 11-13:
Asian Championship in Vietnam.
September 8-9:
Ajman International.
September 16-17
Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, Ashgabat.
September 22-24:
IJJF Balkan Junior Open, Montenegro.
September 23-24:
Grand Slam Los Angeles.
September 29:
Round-1 Mother of The Nation Cup.
October 13-14:
Al Ain U18 International.
September 20-21:
Al Ain International.
November 3:
Round-2 Mother of The National Cup.
November 4:
Round-2 President’s Cup.
November 10-12:
Grand Slam Rio de Janeiro.
November 24-26:
World Championship, Columbia.
November 30:
World Beach Championship, Columbia.
December 8-9:
Dubai International.
December 23:
Round-3 President’s Cup, Sharjah.
January 12-13:
Grand Slam Abu Dhabi.
January 26-27:
Fujairah International.
February 3:
Round-4 President’s Cup, Al Dhafra.
February 16-17:
Ras Al Khaimah International.
February 23-24:
The Challenge Championship.
March 10-11:
Grand Slam London.
March 16:
Final Round – Mother of The Nation.
March 17:
Final Round – President’s Cup.
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The lowdown
Badla
Rating: 2.5/5
Produced by: Red Chillies, Azure Entertainment
Director: Sujoy Ghosh
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Amrita Singh, Tony Luke
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
more from Janine di Giovanni
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What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
