Masks are still mandatory in mosques. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Masks are still mandatory in mosques. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Masks are still mandatory in mosques. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Masks are still mandatory in mosques. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Ramadan 2022: UAE relaxes Covid rules for worshippers


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The UAE has relaxed a series of Covid-19 rules for worshippers ahead of Ramadan.

Prayer times have returned to normal, daily mosque lessons and lectures can resume, and drinking water can be distributed to worshippers once it is bottled, the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (Ncema) said on Wednesday.

The taraweeh prayers — night prayers performed during Ramadan — can now be held in mosques again and during the last 10 nights of Ramadan, tahajjud prayers will also be held from midnight onwards at mosques.

Copies of the Quran can now be provided in mosques again once they are sterilised and women's prayer halls have returned to normal.

Restrictions such as physical distancing were introduced following the outbreak of the pandemic early in 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Restrictions such as physical distancing were introduced following the outbreak of the pandemic early in 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Ncema also said worshippers can pray in a straight line again rather than the ziz-zag format introduced during the pandemic, meaning more can attend the mosque.

Certain rules remain, however, such as mandatory wearing of masks indoors and physical distancing of one metre.

No more than 45 minutes is allocated for the tahajjud prayer during the last 10 days of Ramadan, Ncema said.

The authority said it would continually monitor the situation and reserved the right to make changes. This will be the first time since 2020 — when the pandemic swept through the world — that worshippers can enjoy a regular Ramadan with iftar tents also allowed.

During the pandemic, the gap between the call to prayer and the prayer was about 5 to 10 minutes to prevent gatherings. The return to regular times means a degree of normality has resumed.

It also comes as the UAE cautiously emerges from the pandemic with Covid-19 cases declining.

The UAE reported 288 new cases on Wednesday, while the number of active cases in the country has dropped to 21,813.

No deaths have been reported since March 7 and the overall toll is 2,302.

The UAE has carried out more than 147 million tests since the pandemic began.

Mass Covid-19 screening and an extensive vaccination campaign have helped the UAE to bring down infection rates and limit the spread of the virus.

Nearly 24.5 million vaccine doses have been administered and 97.1 per cent of the eligible population is fully vaccinated.

Preparations for Ramadan - in pictures

  • Egyptian craftsmen produce Ramadan lanterns, called fanous, at a workshop in Cairo. EPA
    Egyptian craftsmen produce Ramadan lanterns, called fanous, at a workshop in Cairo. EPA
  • An activist of the Al Khidmat Foundation Pakistan, a non-profit organisation, packs iftar food to be sent to Afghanistan, in Peshawar, in preparation for the start of Ramadan. AFP
    An activist of the Al Khidmat Foundation Pakistan, a non-profit organisation, packs iftar food to be sent to Afghanistan, in Peshawar, in preparation for the start of Ramadan. AFP
  • Youths hold torches at a parade to welcome the holy month in Jakarta, Indonesia. EPA
    Youths hold torches at a parade to welcome the holy month in Jakarta, Indonesia. EPA
  • Palestinian volunteers clean the Al-Aqsa compound, in front of the Dome of Rock Mosque in Jerusalem's Old City. AP
    Palestinian volunteers clean the Al-Aqsa compound, in front of the Dome of Rock Mosque in Jerusalem's Old City. AP
  • Palestinians shop for traditional 'fanous', a decoration used to celebrate the start of Ramadan, in Hebron in the occupied West Bank. AFP
    Palestinians shop for traditional 'fanous', a decoration used to celebrate the start of Ramadan, in Hebron in the occupied West Bank. AFP
  • A Quran reading at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. EPA
    A Quran reading at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. EPA
  • A man cleans a mosque in the run-up to Ramadan in Peshawar, Pakistan. EPA
    A man cleans a mosque in the run-up to Ramadan in Peshawar, Pakistan. EPA
  • A vendor sells dates in Peshawar. EPA
    A vendor sells dates in Peshawar. EPA
  • A Palestinian man tries to attract custom for his fanous in Jerusalem. AFP
    A Palestinian man tries to attract custom for his fanous in Jerusalem. AFP
  • A Palestinian craftsman works on a section of an Islamic-style monument that consists of lantern and a crescent, two symbols of the Islamic holy month, in the West Bank city of Ramallah. AP
    A Palestinian craftsman works on a section of an Islamic-style monument that consists of lantern and a crescent, two symbols of the Islamic holy month, in the West Bank city of Ramallah. AP
  • Palestinians shop at Al-Zawya old market in Gaza city in preparation for Ramadan. AFP
    Palestinians shop at Al-Zawya old market in Gaza city in preparation for Ramadan. AFP
  • Shopping for decorations in Al-Zawya old market in Gaza city, in preparation for Ramadan. AFP
    Shopping for decorations in Al-Zawya old market in Gaza city, in preparation for Ramadan. AFP
  • A woman buys a Ramadan decoration in Beirut. EPA
    A woman buys a Ramadan decoration in Beirut. EPA
  • A shopkeeper sells prayer mats in Peshawar. EPA
    A shopkeeper sells prayer mats in Peshawar. EPA
The rules on fostering in the UAE

A foster couple or family must:

  • be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
  • not be younger than 25 years old
  • not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
  • be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
  • have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
  • undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
  • A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance

Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.

Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.

The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.

What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE

Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.

Company%20Profile
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UAE finals day

Friday, April 13
Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

3pm, UAE Conference: Dubai Tigers v Sharjah Wanderers
6.30pm, UAE Premiership: Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins

The story of Edge

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.

It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.

Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.

Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab

 

Updated: March 31, 2022, 5:30 AM