An aerial view of the Grand Mosque complex in the Saudi city of Makkah, during the first day of Ramadan. AFP
An aerial view of the Grand Mosque complex in the Saudi city of Makkah, during the first day of Ramadan. AFP
Worshippers perform the evening taraweeh prayer during Ramadan around the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque complex in Makkah. Saudi authorities said on April 5 only people immunised against Covid-19 will be allowed to perform the year-round Umrah pilgrimage from the start of Ramadan, the fasting month for Muslims. AFP
Worshippers perform the evening taraweeh prayer during Ramadan around the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque complex in Makkah. Saudi authorities said on April 5 only people immunised against Covid-19 will be allowed to perform the year-round Umrah pilgrimage from the start of Ramadan, the fasting month for Muslims. AFP
Worshippers perform taraweeh prayers at the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque complex in Makkah. AFP
Worshippers perform taraweeh prayers at the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque complex in Makkah. AFP
Worshippers gather for prayers at the Kaaba, the holiest shrine in the Grand Mosque complex in the Saudi city of Makkah on the first day of Ramadan. AFP
Worshippers gather for prayers at the Kaaba, the holiest shrine in the Grand Mosque complex in the Saudi city of Makkah on the first day of Ramadan. AFP
Umrah pilgrims outside the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. During Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. AP
Umrah pilgrims outside the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. During Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. AP
Barriers and a checkpoint set up to allow only permitted pilgrims as a precaution against coronavirus outside the Grand Mosque in Makkah. AP
Barriers and a checkpoint set up to allow only permitted pilgrims as a precaution against coronavirus outside the Grand Mosque in Makkah. AP
A general view of the Kaaba, the focal point of the Grand Mosque complex in the Saudi city of Makkah. AFP
A general view of the Kaaba, the focal point of the Grand Mosque complex in the Saudi city of Makkah. AFP
The faithful face the Kaaba during taraweeh prayers on the first day of the holy fasting month. Since the start of Ramadan only worshippers immunised against Covid-19 are allowed to perform Umrah. AFP
The faithful face the Kaaba during taraweeh prayers on the first day of the holy fasting month. Since the start of Ramadan only worshippers immunised against Covid-19 are allowed to perform Umrah. AFP
Pilgrims pray at the Kaaba in Makkah on the first day of Ramadan. AFP
Pilgrims pray at the Kaaba in Makkah on the first day of Ramadan. AFP
First dawn prayers of Ramadan this week at the Grand Mosque, in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. AP
First dawn prayers of Ramadan this week at the Grand Mosque, in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. AP

Gulf

Ramadan 2021 in Saudi Arabia: Worshippers pray at the Grand Mosque in Makkah - in pictures

Muslims performed the evening taraweeh prayers on the first day of the Islamic holy month

The National

April 14, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

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WHAT%20IS%20THE%20LICENSING%20PROCESS%20FOR%20VARA%3F
%3Cp%3EVara%20will%20cater%20to%20three%20categories%20of%20companies%20in%20Dubai%20(except%20the%20DIFC)%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECategory%20A%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Minimum%20viable%20product%20(MVP)%20applicants%20that%20are%20currently%20in%20the%20process%20of%20securing%20an%20MVP%20licence%3A%20This%20is%20a%20three-stage%20process%20starting%20with%20%5B1%5D%20a%20provisional%20permit%2C%20graduating%20to%20%5B2%5D%20preparatory%20licence%20and%20concluding%20with%20%5B3%5D%20operational%20licence.%20Applicants%20that%20are%20already%20in%20the%20MVP%20process%20will%20be%20advised%20by%20Vara%20to%20either%20continue%20within%20the%20MVP%20framework%20or%20be%20transitioned%20to%20the%20full%20market%20product%20licensing%20process.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECategory%20B%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Existing%20legacy%20virtual%20asset%20service%20providers%20prior%20to%20February%207%2C%202023%2C%20which%20are%20required%20to%20come%20under%20Vara%20supervision.%20All%20operating%20service%20proviers%20in%20Dubai%20(excluding%20the%20DIFC)%20fall%20under%20Vara%E2%80%99s%20supervision.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECategory%20C%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20New%20applicants%20seeking%20a%20Vara%20licence%20or%20existing%20applicants%20adding%20new%20activities.%20All%20applicants%20that%20do%20not%20fall%20under%20Category%20A%20or%20B%20can%20begin%20the%20application%20process%20through%20their%20current%20or%20prospective%20commercial%20licensor%20%E2%80%94%20the%20DET%20or%20Free%20Zone%20Authority%20%E2%80%94%20or%20directly%20through%20Vara%20in%20the%20instance%20that%20they%20have%20yet%20to%20determine%20the%20commercial%20operating%20zone%20in%20Dubai.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Director: Peyton Reed

Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas

Three stars

Whiile you're here
World politics
Brief scores:

Toss: South Africa, chose to field

Pakistan: 177 & 294

South Africa: 431 & 43-1

Man of the Match: Faf du Plessis (South Africa)

Series: South Africa lead three-match series 2-0

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

On Women's Day
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

Gulf