• Children assist in the installation of Ramadan ornaments in the streets of Giza, Egypt. EPA
    Children assist in the installation of Ramadan ornaments in the streets of Giza, Egypt. EPA
  • Ramadan date sales at the Abu Dhabi Dates Market at, Mina Zayed. Victor Besa / The National
    Ramadan date sales at the Abu Dhabi Dates Market at, Mina Zayed. Victor Besa / The National
  • A Ramadan date shopper at the Abu Dhabi Dates Market at Mina Zayed. Victor Besa / The National
    A Ramadan date shopper at the Abu Dhabi Dates Market at Mina Zayed. Victor Besa / The National
  • Ramadan decoration and offers at the Lulu Hypermarket in Al Barsha in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Ramadan decoration and offers at the Lulu Hypermarket in Al Barsha in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Ramadan decoration at the Spinneys in Al Barsha in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Ramadan decoration at the Spinneys in Al Barsha in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The Carpet Souk at the Zayed Port area. Lalujan, a carpet salesman is looking forward to Ramadan carpet sales. Victor Besa / The National
    The Carpet Souk at the Zayed Port area. Lalujan, a carpet salesman is looking forward to Ramadan carpet sales. Victor Besa / The National
  • The Carpet Souk at the Zayed Port area. An upholsterer cuts fabric for a Ramadan sofa. Victor Besa / The National
    The Carpet Souk at the Zayed Port area. An upholsterer cuts fabric for a Ramadan sofa. Victor Besa / The National
  • A man hangs decorations ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on a mosque during a countrywide lockdown over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters
    A man hangs decorations ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on a mosque during a countrywide lockdown over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters
  • A Palestinian girl leans out from the window of a vehicle to see the decorative lights in Gaza City as the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic lingers ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. AFP
    A Palestinian girl leans out from the window of a vehicle to see the decorative lights in Gaza City as the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic lingers ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. AFP
  • A Palestinian packs boxes with food that will be distributed to poor Palestinian families ahead oof the hoy month of Ramadan, in Nablus, West Bank. AP Photo
    A Palestinian packs boxes with food that will be distributed to poor Palestinian families ahead oof the hoy month of Ramadan, in Nablus, West Bank. AP Photo
  • Daily-wage workers wait in line to receive free wheat donated by Afghan businessmen ahead of the upcoming holy fasting month of Ramadan in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo
    Daily-wage workers wait in line to receive free wheat donated by Afghan businessmen ahead of the upcoming holy fasting month of Ramadan in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo
  • The newly installed Ramadan lights on the Abu Dhabi Corniche during the rain. Victor Besa / The National
    The newly installed Ramadan lights on the Abu Dhabi Corniche during the rain. Victor Besa / The National
  • The newly installed Ramadan lights on the Corniche during the rain. Victor Besa / The National
    The newly installed Ramadan lights on the Corniche during the rain. Victor Besa / The National
  • The newly installed Ramadan lights on the Corniche during the rain. Victor Besa / The National
    The newly installed Ramadan lights on the Corniche during the rain. Victor Besa / The National
  • The newly installed Ramadan lights on the Corniche during the rain. Victor Besa / The National
    The newly installed Ramadan lights on the Corniche during the rain. Victor Besa / The National
  • A Palestinian vendor displays traditional lanterns known in Arabic as "Fanous" outside his shop in Gaza City, ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. From cancelled iftar feasts to suspended mosque prayers, Muslims across the Middle East are bracing for a bleak month of Ramadan fasting as the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic lingers. Ramadan is a period for both self reflection and socialising. Believers fast from dawn to dusk and then gather around a family or community meal each evening of Islam's holiest month, which begins later this week and ends with Eid al-Fitr festivities. AFP
    A Palestinian vendor displays traditional lanterns known in Arabic as "Fanous" outside his shop in Gaza City, ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. From cancelled iftar feasts to suspended mosque prayers, Muslims across the Middle East are bracing for a bleak month of Ramadan fasting as the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic lingers. Ramadan is a period for both self reflection and socialising. Believers fast from dawn to dusk and then gather around a family or community meal each evening of Islam's holiest month, which begins later this week and ends with Eid al-Fitr festivities. AFP
  • An Egyptian vendor sells traditional lanterns known in Arabic as "Fanous" ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in the capital Cairo. AFP
    An Egyptian vendor sells traditional lanterns known in Arabic as "Fanous" ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in the capital Cairo. AFP
  • A Yemeni vendor waits for costumers in the old city market of the capital Sanaa ahead of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. AFP
    A Yemeni vendor waits for costumers in the old city market of the capital Sanaa ahead of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. AFP
  • Livestock being carted from the Abu Dhabi Livestock Market to the Public Slaughter House which is directly across the street. Victor Besa / The National
    Livestock being carted from the Abu Dhabi Livestock Market to the Public Slaughter House which is directly across the street. Victor Besa / The National
  • Egyptian youths prepare decorations for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, also known to Egyptians as "Zeinat Ramadan" on a street in front of their homes during the night-time curfew to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Cairo, Egypt,. REUTERS
    Egyptian youths prepare decorations for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, also known to Egyptians as "Zeinat Ramadan" on a street in front of their homes during the night-time curfew to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Cairo, Egypt,. REUTERS
  • An Egyptian seller cleans a traditional Ramadan lantern called "fanous" at his shop ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, amid concerns over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Cairo, Egypt. REUTERS
    An Egyptian seller cleans a traditional Ramadan lantern called "fanous" at his shop ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, amid concerns over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Cairo, Egypt. REUTERS
  • Palestinians shop in the market before the holy month of Ramadan in Gaza City. EPA
    Palestinians shop in the market before the holy month of Ramadan in Gaza City. EPA
  • A vendor waits for customers to buy traditional food ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, at the main market in Gaza City. AP Photo
    A vendor waits for customers to buy traditional food ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, at the main market in Gaza City. AP Photo
  • An Iraqi man wearing a mask is reflected on a traditional lantern known in Arabic as "Fanous" at the Shorja market in central Baghdad as Iraq prepares to welcome the holy fasting month of Ramadan which begins later this week. AFP
    An Iraqi man wearing a mask is reflected on a traditional lantern known in Arabic as "Fanous" at the Shorja market in central Baghdad as Iraq prepares to welcome the holy fasting month of Ramadan which begins later this week. AFP
  • A vendor wearing face mask sells sweets at al-Midan neighborhood ahead of the month of Ramadan in Damascus, Syria. EPA
    A vendor wearing face mask sells sweets at al-Midan neighborhood ahead of the month of Ramadan in Damascus, Syria. EPA
  • People shop for Ramadan lanterns ahead of the holy month, in the Sayeda Zeinab neighborhood of Cairo, Egypt. AP Photo
    People shop for Ramadan lanterns ahead of the holy month, in the Sayeda Zeinab neighborhood of Cairo, Egypt. AP Photo
  • A vendor wearing a protective face mask serves customers inside his shop, ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, amid concerns over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Algiers, Algeria. REUTERS
    A vendor wearing a protective face mask serves customers inside his shop, ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, amid concerns over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Algiers, Algeria. REUTERS
  • A general view shows an outdoor market set up by the Algerian government to prevent crowding inside supermarkets, ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, amid concerns over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Algiers, Algeria. REUTERS
    A general view shows an outdoor market set up by the Algerian government to prevent crowding inside supermarkets, ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, amid concerns over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Algiers, Algeria. REUTERS
  • Early Ramadan shoppers at Carrefour Yas Mall. A lady checks out a Ramadan promotional stand. Victor Besa / The National
    Early Ramadan shoppers at Carrefour Yas Mall. A lady checks out a Ramadan promotional stand. Victor Besa / The National

Government

Ramadan 2020: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid wishes UAE a blessed holy month

The holy month is expected to begin on Friday but this is yet to be confirmed by the moon-sighting committee

The National

April 23, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has wished the people of the UAE a blessed Ramadan, describing the holy month as one of "goodness and mercy".

The Vice President and Ruler of Dubai offered his congratulations on Twitter, praying for "the blessing of good health, well-being, safety and stability in this country" for all.

"We reassure our people that the country is well, the future is promising, and that God has protected our benevolent country.

"May Allah accept our prayers, fasting and good deeds," he said.

Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar in which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, is expected to begin on Friday.

The official start date will be confirmed by the country's moon-sighting committee, which is due to meet - remotely - after magrhib [sunset] prayers on Thursday.

The new crescent moon, which signals the start of Ramadan, must first be spotted using a telescope and then confirmed with the naked eye.

If the new moon is not sighted, Ramadan will fall on Saturday.

UAERamadan 2026