Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed hosts iftar reception for ambassadors in Abu Dhabi

UAE Vice President celebrates the holy month with gathering at Emirates Palace attended by senior officials and ambassadors

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, received employees of several local and federal authorities, as well as a number of ambassadors to the UAE. All photos: Wam

The reception was held at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Mansour in conversation with Martina Strong, US ambassador to the UAE

This week marks the final days of Ramadan, considered the most important phase of the holy month

Citizens and senior officials were in attendance

A group photo from the event

The reception was also attended by Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad, Adviser for Special Affairs at the Presidential Court

An iftar banquet was also held at the event

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, hosted an iftar banquet in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

He welcomed a number of citizens, senior officials and ambassadors to the reception at Emirates Palace, state news agency Wam reported.

During the reception, Sheikh Mansour held conversations with the delegates and also wished for a bright future for the UAE under President Sheikh Mohamed's leadership.

The reception was attended by Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad, Adviser for Special Affairs at the Presidential Court.

Also in attendance was Martina Strong, US ambassador to the UAE, who was sworn into the position in September, nearly a year after President Joe Biden nominated her for the post.

Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is preparing for a surge in visitors in the final days of Ramadan, which are viewed as the most significant of the period.

Eid Al Fitr – which signifies the end of the Ramadan and the start of the Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar – will begin on either Tuesday or Wednesday.

The exact start will be determined by when the crescent moon is spotted, because the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Ramadan cannon – in pictures

A cannon at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is fired to mark the end of the first day of fasting of the holy month this year. All photos: Victor Besa / The National

The mosque is expected to receive a large number of worshippers and visitors throughout Ramadan 1445

Cannon were fired across the Emirates to signify the start of the first iftar of Ramadan 1445

People gathered to watch the firing and take photos

A Ramadan cannon at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi