President Sheikh Mohamed leads Eid prayers and congratulates Muslims

UAE leader calls for prosperity and progress in messages to Arab nations

President Sheikh Mohamed prays at the tomb of UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, alongside senior officials including Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai, pray at Zabeel Grand Mosque. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, performs Eid Al Fitr prayers at Al Badee Musalla. Wam

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, performs Eid Al Fitr prayers at the Grand Eid Musalla in Khuzam. Wam

Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman, offers Eid prayers at Al Zaher Palace. Wam

Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, performs Eid prayers at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in the emirate. Wam

President Sheikh Mohamed performed Eid Al Fitr prayers alongside worshippers at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday morning and congratulated Muslims on the occasion.

During the sermon, Dr Omar Al Darei, director general of the Fatwa Council, emphasised the importance of family bonds.

Following the prayer, Sheikh Mohamed exchanged greetings with worshippers before visiting the tomb of UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, also performed prayers at the mosque.

“I congratulate my brothers the Rulers of the Emirates, the people of the UAE and Muslims around the world on the occasion of Eid Al Fitr,” Sheikh Mohamed wrote on X.

“We pray that God continues to bestow his blessings on our nation and grants peace and harmony to the people of the world.”

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai, also performed prayers on Wednesday morning, at Zabeel Grand Mosque.

President Sheikh Mohamed, centre, receives Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, third left, during an Eid Al Fitr reception at Mushrif Palace. Pictured with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, far right, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, sixth from left, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, fifth from left, Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, second from left, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister, far left. Abdulla Al Neyadi / UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed speaks with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, at the reception. Photo: Abdulla Al Bedwawi / UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed speaks with Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, at the reception. Photo: Hamad Al Kaabi / UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, and Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman at the reception. Photo: Abdulla Al Neyadi / UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, talk during the reception. Photo: Hamad Al Kaabi / UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed receives guests during the reception at Mushrif Palace. Photo: Abdulla Al Bedwawi / UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, attends the reception. Photo: Abdulla Al Neyadi / UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Department of Civil Aviation, chief executive and chairman of The Emirates Group and chairman of Dubai World, attends the reception. Photo: Abdulla Al Bedwawi / UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, speaks with Sheikh Rashid bin Saud Al Mualla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain at the reception. Photo: Hamad Al Kaabi / UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Saeed bin Mohamed, Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed, chairman of the board of Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs, and Sheikh Omar bin Zayed, deputy chairman of the board of trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation attend the reception at Mushrif Palace. Photo: Hamad Al Kaabi / UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, speaks with Sheikh Saif bin Mohamed at the reception. Photo: Abdulla Al Neyadi / UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, and Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman, attend the reception at Mushrif Palace. Photo: Abdulla Al Bedwawi / UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Rashid bin Saud Al Mualla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, and Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, attend the Eid Al Fitr reception. Photo: Abdulla Al Neyadi / UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, attend the reception. Photo: Abdulla Al Neyadi / UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, attends the reception. Photo: Hamad Al Kaabi / UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman, performed prayers at Al Zaher Palace.

Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, performed Eid Al Fitr prayer at Al Badee Musalla.

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, performed the Eid Al Fitr prayer at the Grand Eid Musalla in Khuzam.

Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, performed Eid prayers at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in the emirate.

Sheikh Mohamed later received the UAE Rulers at Al Mushrif Palace, alongside Crown Princes, deputy rulers and well-wishers.

On Tuesday, Sheikh Mohamed sent messages of congratulations to leaders throughout the Arab world on the eve of Eid Al Fitr.

He wished the leaders and their people “continued progress, prosperity and stability”, state news agency Wam reported.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour delivered similar messages.

Sheikh Mohammed also shared his best wishes on social media for those observing the Eid Al Fitr holiday in the Emirates and across the region.

“We congratulate the people of the Emirates and all Arab and Islamic peoples on Eid Al Fitr,” Sheikh Mohammed wrote on X.

Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the President, marked the occasion with a message expressing sympathy for Gazans amid the war in the enclave.

“Best congratulations on Eid Al Fitr, and our hearts are with the people of Gaza in their ordeal, as the fierce Israeli war casts a shadow on the holiday and its joy,” Dr Gargash wrote on X.

“The UAE continues to support the Gazans in these difficult times and, in parallel with its political efforts with our Arab brothers, it will spare no effort to help the people of Gaza through its comprehensive relief programme.”

Eid Al Fitr started in the UAE on Wednesday.

The start date was confirmed on Monday evening by the UAE's moon-sighting committee, comprising astronomers, court officials and advisers from the Emirates' Islamic authority.

They were unable to see the new crescent moon, making Tuesday, April 30, the final day of Ramadan this year.

What is Eid Al Fitr?

Eid Al Fitr signifies the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the month of Shawwal.

It is a celebratory occasion marked by morning prayers, family get-togethers and the giving of gifts, as well as charitable donations.

A public holiday accompanies Eid Al Fitr, with many people taking time off work to travel abroad or take short trips in the region.

Both the public and private sector are enjoying a week-long break to mark the occasion. Work will resume on Monday, April 15.

Eid celebrations around the world – in pictures

Muslims mark the end of Ramadan at Jama Masjid, New Delhi, India. AP

Muslims attend Eid Al Fitr prayers at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka, Bangladesh. EPA

Muslims in Mumbai, India. AP

Muslims take selfies in New Delhi. AP

A Muslim child dressed in a thawb in the old quarters of Delhi. Reuters

Muslims celebrate Eid Al Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, outside Al Seddik Mosque in Cairo. AP

Albanian Muslims at Skanderbeg Square in Tirana, Albania. Reuters

A Muslim woman prays at the grave of her relative in Abu Sir, Egypt. AFP

A young Muslim man sets off fireworks on the eve of Eid Al Fitr in Jakarta, Indonesia. AFP

Muslim worshippers gather for prayers on the first day of Eid Al Fitr prayers in Jakarta. AFP

Muslims take photographs at Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Reuters

Rohingya refugees from Myanmar embrace after Eid prayers at a shelter in Meulaboh, Indonesia. AFP

Muslims gather outside the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque after Eid prayers in Istanbul, Turkey. Reuters

A street vendor offers balloons for sale to mark the Eid celebration in Karachi, Pakistan. AFP

An aerial photograph of Al Nabi Jirjis mosque during Eid morning prayers in Mosul, Iraq. AFP

Muslims perform prayers on the first day of Eid Al Fitr in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. AP

Crowds gather to pray on the first day of Eid in Jakarta. EPA

Worshippers attend Eid Al Fitr prayers at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Reuters

A Rohingya refugee child attends Eid prayers at a shelter in Meulaboh, Indonesia. AFP