Ramadan 2021: UAE worshippers attend first morning prayers

Mosques are back open this holy month bringing hope of better times to come

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. 13 APRIL 2021. Morning prayers on the start of the Holy Month of Ra,adan in the United Arab Emirates at the Al Salam Masjid in Al Barsha. (Photo: Antonie Robertson/The National) Journalist: None. Section: National.

Morning prayers on the first day of Ramadan at the Al Salam Mosque in Al Barsha, Dubai. All photos Antonie Robertson / The National

The National

Apr 13, 2021

Worshippers in Dubai attended morning prayers on the first day of Ramadan.

Mosques are open this year but with strict safety measures in place to protect against Covid-19.

They closed last year at the height of the pandemic but this holy month brings hope of better times to come.

Worshippers at Al Salam Mosque in Al Barsha on Tuesday offered fajr prayers, adhering to all Covid-19 guidelines, including physical distancing and sanitising.

Chefs at a restaurant in Deira prepare food for a labour accommodation camp on May 1, 2020, two months after the pandemic hit, leading to job losses and a global economic slowdown. This year, Dubai's 10 million meals campaign will expand to 100 million meals in 20 countries in the region. Pawan Singh / The National

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Sheikh Dr Fares Al Mustafa, imam and khateeb at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque and Centre in Dubai, said he was happy that taraweeh prayers would be held at mosques this year.

Taraweeh prayers are additional optional prayers performed at night during Ramadan.

“Because of Covid-19 we won’t have Iftar at mosques," he said.

“We will have taraweeh and two Islamic lessons every day."

Sheikh Al Mustafa, who is also the religious and cultural affairs adviser at the centre, will give daily reminders of physical-distancing rules before congregational prayers.