Seven Eid Al Fitr cannons mark end of Ramadan in Dubai

One cannon is placed at Zabeel Grand Mosque and the others at prayer sites across the emirate

Dubai Police will manage the firing of the Eid cannons. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Dubai Police announced seven locations around the emirate where Eid Al Fitr cannons will be fired.

The firing of the cannons marked the end of the holy month and signify that Muslims may stop fasting until next Ramadan.

The ceremonies also announced the start of Eid Al Fitr.

The Eid cannons are at seven locations across Dubai – Grand Zabeel Mosque, and at prayer sites in Al Barsha, Baraha, Nadd Al Hamar, Hatta, Nad Al Shiba and Muallah Al Mankhool.

The cannons, which can be heard up 10km away, have been a tradition in the UAE since the 1960s.

They are a reminder of the importance of community and how traditions can still exist in the modern world.

In Dubai, the Eid cannons are managed by the police.

According to protocol, four officers from Dubai Police must be present at each firing. Two officers man the cannon, one passes the blank cartridge and the other loads it.

Two officers at the back are guardians of the cannon and give orders. When it is time for iftar, an officer gives the order for the cannon to be fired.

On the last day of Ramadan, the cannon was fired twice to mark the end of fasting and the beginning of Eid Al Fitr. The cannon will also be fired twice again on Eid morning.

Muslims will pray at mosques across the emirate and special prayers will be held to mark the start of Eid.

Private and government workers began their Eid break on Thursday, April 20, which will continue through to Sunday, April 23, as Ramadan lasts for 29 days this year.

Eid Al Fitr preparations around the world – in pictures

A man shops for sweets at a market before Eid Al Fitr in the port city of Sidon, Lebanon. Reuters

A street vendor sells balloons in Sidon. Reuters

Ministry of Religion employees in Aceh, Indonesia, observe the position of the Moon to determine when Eid Al Fitr will fall. EPA

A vendor selling sweets as Palestinians prepare for the Eid Al Fitr holiday in Khan Younis, the southern Gaza Strip. Reuters

Palestinian women make traditional cakes in Rafah, the southern Gaza Strip. Reuters

A woman has her arm decorated with henna at a street market in the run-up to Eid Al Fitr, which marks the end Ramadan, in Mogadishu, Somalia. AP

Henna designs are the order of the day in Mogadishu. AP

Pastries on display at a market stall in the Ulus district of Ankara, ahead of the Eid Al Fitr holiday. AFP

Many Muslims head back to their home towns and villages from bigger cities to spend Eid Al Fitr with family, such as this man and his children leaving Dhaka, Bangladesh. EPA

The sunglasses are on as the packed train leaves Dhaka. EPA

Passengers prepare to board a train in Surabaya, Indonesia, as people head home for the Eid holiday. AFP

Excitement is building for Eid Al Fitr in Karachi. EPA

A pet hotel attendant with a cat staying at the facility while its owners enjoy the Eid Al Fitr holiday in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. EPA

A Pakistani craftsman works on women's embroidered clothes before Eid Al Fitr in Peshawar, Pakistan. EPA

Embroidered cloth being stitched for Eid Al Fitr. EPA

Passengers at a bus station in Banda Aceh start the journey home for the festivities. AFP

Traffic at a toll booth as Muslims head home for Eid Al Fitr, known locally as Mudik, in Karawang, Indonesia. Reuters

Iraqi women prepare traditional cookies in Mosul ahead of Eid Al Fitr. AFP

The bakes are known as kleicha. AFP

Women visit a market ahead of Eid Al Fitr in Karachi. AP

A Palestinian girl prepares traditional date-filled cookies with her family in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP

A Palestinian family prepares food for Eid Al Fitr. AFP

A three-wheeled taxi, known as a 'bajaj', navigates its way through Tanah Abang market in Jakarta. AP

A vendor waits for costumers at a market in Jakarta. AP

A Palestinian worker prepares smoked fish at a factory in Rafah. AFP