Midday prayers in Sharjah at the Al Noor Mosque. Antonie Robertson / The National
Midday prayers in Sharjah at the Al Noor Mosque. Antonie Robertson / The National
Midday prayers in Sharjah at the Al Noor Mosque. Antonie Robertson / The National
Midday prayers in Sharjah at the Al Noor Mosque. Antonie Robertson / The National

Free parking in Sharjah around prayer times during Ramadan


Salam Al Amir
  • English
  • Arabic

Public parking in Sharjah will be free for one hour around the five prayer times throughout Ramadan.

It will also be free all day long on Fridays except for car parks in zones flagged with blue sign boards.

“The public car parks are subject to fees from 8am until midnight from Saturday to Thursday, but will be free around prayer times to give worshippers peace of mind,” said Obaid Al Tunaiji, director general of Sharjah Municipality.

Inspectors will be on duty to ensure proper parking and to prevent violations such as double-parking or blocking of other cars.

“We have work and inspection teams working round the clock during the holy month,” said Mr Obaid.

The municipality is planning seven inspection campaigns, in addition to daily inspection visits during Ramadan to all food centres and public venues in the emirate.

A total of 40 inspectors will be working to ensure the rules are being followed.

“The inspections aim to ensure rules are being followed at all food outlets concerning storage of foodstuffs and display of food for non-Muslims,” Mr Obaid said.

Littering and behaviour that disturbs others, such as setting up unlicensed tents in front of homes and turning up the volume when in public parks, are not permitted.

“We urge members of the public to support the municipality’s ongoing efforts to maintain a clean and peaceful environment for all by adhering to rules,” he said.

Members of the public can report any violations and negative behaviour by calling the municipality’s 993 hotline.

The specs

Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 180hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 250Nm at 3,00rpm

Transmission: 5-speed sequential auto

Price: From Dh139,995

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The specs

Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6

Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm

Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed auto

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On sale: Now

If you go

Flying

Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.

 

Touring

Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com 

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Retirement funds heavily invested in equities at a risky time

Pension funds in growing economies in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East have a sharply higher percentage of assets parked in stocks, just at a time when trade tensions threaten to derail markets.

Retirement money managers in 14 geographies now allocate 40 per cent of their assets to equities, an 8 percentage-point climb over the past five years, according to a Mercer survey released last week that canvassed government, corporate and mandatory pension funds with almost $5 trillion in assets under management. That compares with about 25 per cent for pension funds in Europe.

The escalating trade spat between the US and China has heightened fears that stocks are ripe for a downturn. With tensions mounting and outcomes driven more by politics than economics, the S&P 500 Index will be on course for a “full-scale bear market” without Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts, Citigroup’s global macro strategy team said earlier this week.

The increased allocation to equities by growth-market pension funds has come at the expense of fixed-income investments, which declined 11 percentage points over the five years, according to the survey.

Hong Kong funds have the highest exposure to equities at 66 per cent, although that’s been relatively stable over the period. Japan’s equity allocation jumped 13 percentage points while South Korea’s increased 8 percentage points.

The money managers are also directing a higher portion of their funds to assets outside of their home countries. On average, foreign stocks now account for 49 per cent of respondents’ equity investments, 4 percentage points higher than five years ago, while foreign fixed-income exposure climbed 7 percentage points to 23 per cent. Funds in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan are among those seeking greater diversification in stocks and fixed income.

• Bloomberg

Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier

UAE results
Beat China by 16 runs
Lost to Thailand by 10 wickets
Beat Nepal by five runs
Beat Hong Kong by eight wickets
Beat Malaysia by 34 runs

Standings (P, W, l, NR, points)

1. Thailand 5 4 0 1 9
2. UAE 5 4 1 0 8
3. Nepal 5 2 1 2 6
4. Hong Kong 5 2 2 1 5
5. Malaysia 5 1 4 0 2
6. China 5 0 5 0 0

Final
Thailand v UAE, Monday, 7am

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Infobox

Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman

The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August

Results

UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets

Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets

Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets

Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs

Monday fixtures

UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain

JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH

Directed by: Shaka King

Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons

Four stars

Updated: March 22, 2023, 4:30 AM