Worshippers across the UAE took part in late-night prayers during Ramadan for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Muslims performed tahajjud at mosques on Sunday amid a gradual easing of safety restrictions.
In late April, authorities revealed that the optional prayer, performed during the night, would be held at mosques in the final 10 days of Ramadan after complying with precautionary measures.
The prayers must be held between midnight and 12.30pm. Elderly people and those with chronic illnesses are advised to pray at home.
Muaz Shabandri, an Indian communications professional in Dubai, said he was happy with the return of an important Ramadan tradition for the first time since 2019.
“To get back to tahajjud prayers was great as this is a big part of Ramadan rituals," he said.
“There was happiness all around.
“In many ways it is yet another way of things coming back to normal.
“For a Muslim these are the most important nights of Ramadan and the entire year.
"There is a sense of calm and serenity when attending the prayers at midnight.”
Mr Shabandri said he had prayed tahajjud at mosques in the country for 10 years now.
Islam places an emphasis on praying in congregation in the last 10 nights of Ramadan, which are viewed as the most precious of the holy month.
Mr Shabandri said worshippers had to follow social-distancing protocols, wear masks, and carry their prayer mats.
He said security guards at mosques helped manage crowds and ensure people followed rules.
'An eagerly awaited experience'
Mohammed Abdulla, an Indian resident in Dubai, said participating in prayers at a mosque was a joyous occasion.
"It was emotional and eagerly awaited experience to return to tahajjud at the mosque," he said.
“It was a spiritually uplifting experience and everyone had a smile on their face.”
Mr Abdulla grew up in the Emirates and attended the prayers at mosques in the country since he was 10.
The 38-year-old resident reminisced about attending prayers with his family and children.
He said he had hoped to attend the prayers last year but mosques had remained shut.
“I was born in the UAE, and have prayed at mosques here for close to 28 years," he said.
“When I was a child, I would go to the mosque with my father and play or sleep there.
“People are diligent and get their own prayer mats and follow the rules."
He said being back at the mosque helped him feel united with the community, and spiritually connected, even amid a pandemic.
In previous years, tens of thousands of people could come together for tahajjud.
In 2013, about 52,000 worshippers performed tahajjud on the 27th night of Ramadan at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
Volunteers at mosques are instrumental in controlling crowds and ensuring people followed social distancing guidelines.
Worshippers must keep a distance of two metres from each other.
Mohammad Moin Uddin, the imam of Ali Salem Al Kaabi Mosque in Abu Dhabi, said the mosque could accommodate 350 worshippers previously, but can now take only 100 because of social-distancing rules.
“I was emotional and happy to lead prayers. It felt very good,” said Mr Moin Uddin.
“It felt very peaceful to lead the prayers at midnight.”
He reminded worshippers of social-distancing guidelines at the beginning of prayers.
To ensure people follow regulations, Sheikh Dr Fares Al Mustafa, religious and cultural affairs adviser, imam and khateeb at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque and Centre in Dubai, also gives daily reminders of social distancing before starting prayers.
Before the pandemic, about 3,500 people used to gather for tahajjud at the mosque every day. Now the mosque can accommodate a maximum of 800 people.
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
The specs: 2017 Lotus Evora Sport 410
Price, base / as tested Dh395,000 / Dh420,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission Six-speed manual
Power 410hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 420Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.7L / 100km
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
