Ramadan 2020: UAE leaders send congratulatory messages as holy month begins

Muslims face a unique Ramadan as stay home measures remain in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19

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  A worker cleans and sterilises the Kaaba in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Reuters

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  People wearing protective face masks pray at the courtyard of the Eyup Sultan Mosque for the upcoming Ramadan, in Istanbul, Turkey. EPA

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  A Palestinian craftsman fashions a traditional "fanous" lantern, a decoration used to celebrate the start of Ramadan in a workshop in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP

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  Workers clean and sterilise the roof of Kaaba at Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Reuters

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  Iraqis shop for food ahead of the first day of Ramadan at the Shorjah market in central Baghdad, Iraq. EPA

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  Palestinian men ride a motorcycle while carrying a newly made traditional "fanous" lantern, a decoration used to celebrate the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP

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  A Sunni Muslim cleric wearing a face mask uses a telescope to gaze while searching for the crescent moon, which if sighted would mark the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, at the Abu Al Hanifa Al Numan mosque in the Adhamiya district of Iraq's capital Baghdad. AFP

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  A Sunni Muslim cleric uses a telescope to gaze while searching for the crescent moon, which if sighted would mark the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, at the Abu Al Hanifa Al Numan mosque in the Adhamiya district of of Iraq's capital Baghdad. AFP

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  A Palestinian woman harvests wheat stalks in a field in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, before being prepared to be used in a soup during Ramadan. AFP

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  People shop in preparation for Ramadan, in Baghdad, Iraq. AP Photo

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  Men in the back of a pickup truck disinfect the street outside the Abu Al Hanifa Al Numan mosque in the Adhamiya district of Iraq's capital Baghdad. AFP

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  A Palestinian boy seller showcases Chinese-made "fanous" lanterns in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP

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  Egyptian youths decorate their residential street in preparation for Ramadan in Cairo's Hadayek El Maadi district. AFP

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  A Palestinian wearing a protective face mask sells knefeh (traditional Middle Eastern dessert) in the oldest knefeh store in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus. AFP

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  A Palestinian vendor shows pickled grapes to customers in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron. AFP

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  Palestinians shop in the Zawiya market ahead of Ramadan, in Gaza City. AP Photo

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  A spices vendor recites the Quran as he waits for customers in Sanaa, Yemen. Reuters

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  A Saudi seller pours dates into a box at his shop in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Reuters

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  A vendor wearing a protective face mask serves customers at his shop in Amman, Jordan. Reuters

Latest: Dubai lifts all permit restrictions to allow shopping and exercise

Fasting for Ramadan will begin on Friday, the UAE's state news agency Wam announced.

The UAE's moon-sighting committee, tasked with sighting the new crescent moon, typically sights the moon using a telescope and then confirms with the naked eye. They convened, through video conference, after sunset prayers on Thursday.

The new moon indicates that Shaban, the month preceding Ramadan, has ended and that the holy month has begun.

The committee typically gathers at the Ministry of Justice to deliberate, after receiving data from the International Astronomical Centre, who set up telescopes on Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain, one of the country's highest mountains.

President Sheikh Khalifa sent cables of congratulations to the heads of Arab and Islamic countries on the advent of Ramadan.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid 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.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, tweeted to congratulate everyone ahead of the holy month.

"Ramadan Mubarak to all. May you and your loved ones be safe and find peace and inspiration in this blessed month of compassion and solidarity. May we have the strength and unity to see us through these challenging times to brighter days ahead," he said.

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  A cannon is fired at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, to mark the beginning of iftar in 2020. Victor Besa / The National

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  A Ramadan decoration at one of the bridges on Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Street in Ajman. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Hundreds of packets of cooked food provided by Guru Nanak Darbar Sikh temple in Jebel Ali for the needy are distributed by Markaz volunteers before iftar at the Naif area of Deira, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Volunteers in Fujairah prepare food to be handed out at iftar. Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Ramadan decorations on the Corniche, Abu Dhabi, at sunset. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  A cannon is fired to mark the breaking of the Ramadan fast at Qasr Al Hosn, Abu Dhabi's oldest standing building. Victor Besa / The National

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  Ramadan decorations on the Corniche, Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  A woman checks out a Ramadan promotional stand at Carrefour in Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  Ramadan lamps for sale at the Dhow Harbour and Al Mina Souq, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  Ramadan decorations in Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  The sun sets behind Al Rustmani Mosque in Jebel Ali, Dubai, on the day before Ramadan. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Ramadan decoration at one of the bridges on Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Street in Ajman. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Ramadan lights on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  Ramadan decorations at the Spinneys in Al Barsha, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

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  A Ramadan date shopper at the Abu Dhabi Dates Market at Mina Zayed. Victor Besa / The National

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  Ramadan decorations inside Al Fateh Plaza at the Dhow Harbour and Al Mina Souq, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

The Islamic calendar is determined by moon phases, which are either 29 or 30 days long, with the appearance of a new moon signalling the beginning of a month. Searching for the new crescent can be a little tricky, however, because it is usually faint and is only visible for about 20 minutes.

Traditionally, the UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia observe the holy month on the same dates, while Oman’s religious authority calls Ramadan independently of the rest of the Arabian Gulf.

Saudi Arabia leads the way in calling the start and end of the holy month, but each country has its own committee to confirm the new moon.

During this month, Muslims do not consume any food or drinks between fajr (dawn) and maghrib (sunset) prayers – not even water.

Non-Muslims should behave respectfully, remembering to dress conservatively and to not eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight hours.

Working hours will be reduced in the private sector and public sector.

An SMS from Sheikh Mohamed

UAE residents woke up to a personal message from Sheikh Mohamed on Friday. It read:

Dear fellow citizens and residents,

Please allow me to share heartfelt greetings from my brother Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, President of the UAE, as we celebrate the Holy Month of Ramadan.

I remain grateful for your patience, resilience and kindness in these unprecedented times. Together we can ensure the safety of our cherished families,

friends and communities by continuing to practice the necessary precautionary measures. As one, I know we will overcome this pandemic together.

May God bless you and your families. Ramadan Kareem.

Mohamed bin Zayed