![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L6GOYWAY6RHPHP4R2YVMTZMCXM.jpg?smart=true&auth=377a37d912b721e4403b460a6bf5560ebf18c9ec7542c384c7d9f12e84539591&width=400&height=225)
Worshippers leave Al Khayle Mosque in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, after the first fajr prayers of Ramadan.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XZUKIN2QWRFELGWMFL5CC5PSAI.jpg?smart=true&auth=75ce5aeab6ec784dd4713e296d850161b60768d14f5b10749e37d1870972bb76&width=400&height=225)
Worshippers at fajr prayers on the first day of Ramadan at Al Khayle Mosque, Khalifa City in Abu Dhabi. All photos: Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2DB3A22CBZBRXIUN5N72VCGZJU.jpg?smart=true&auth=3841e499dc4e5829763f9a2e11956c20e082c5fa3802195a41e5b5a0fc3cd56d&width=400&height=225)
Worshippers are observing the most regular holy month since 2019 because of easing Covid-19 rules.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LOZXWPHIEFF2ZJJDUQ672XLZC4.jpg?smart=true&auth=170f49f578cdfec62399788c7907bf7b16b6913374dc30cb4e47a853e7e0b53c&width=400&height=225)
An Al Khayle Mosque worshipper with misbaha prayer beads.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UQ4EHQC5EBB4RGA4LTCEPBNFFQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=1a0f03aa60941a91c33eb77e85a971e0c27313724237be5773ee8df706f6763a&width=400&height=225)
Guidelines including the wearing of masks in mosques remain.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XUMYPQR55JDEFNJY3JPUVKUXTQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=cf12146b5037d02bd37507b044344458d8eab33e253e23f1814b22350521faf8&width=400&height=225)
Prayer times have returned to normal after being affected for two years by the pandemic.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z3RN7LHD3BBRVE3NA5ZAKVCKVI.jpg?smart=true&auth=30d4cc51912036dc0fdd317545439e6fec95603acabfc2018b7f950bc0110776&width=400&height=225)
Taraweeh prayers — night prayers performed during Ramadan — will be held in mosques again during this holy month.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B5ZWF24NBRFCFEHU752BXKKXDU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c1eab7d2e7429f12dafd1554807ac95ecaa1f4e2d997d28856f7d24656550c2c&width=400&height=225)
During the last 10 nights of Ramadan, tahajjud prayers will also be held from midnight onwards.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HUOJ43DMAZC7NC4NRXONMF7TQE.jpg?smart=true&auth=af33835f7206150db3d38fb1631dc0fb4ed3d4ca1a3d20cd740b063d8b0bf098&width=400&height=225)
A boy reads the Quran during the fajr prayer on the first day of Ramadan at Al Khayle Mosque, Khalifa City.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3H36ZEFH3JGLXHZETWHG3X42S4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e420dbdcf3cbed796b557906a9541cbe33ddd7e7a53bfdaca14744cde3288599&width=400&height=225)
Worshippers at prayer.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AZHJIEGRPNAPBLTASQZHJI7CCU.jpg?smart=true&auth=051223ef4923d5441ec5643917b4a486b4089f8cadac0236aed1ac0bfc15adaa&width=400&height=225)
A worshipper kneels in prayer.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GYA3NTT3ZVHQHL2GYGMODS3TKI.jpg?smart=true&auth=7885dae15495f4f0f2baf84accdd9f682aa420373d4f4b0887df35c180a3e9f4&width=400&height=225)
A large attendance at the mosque.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IXAJ42L7MRCXBOVIO4SNWAGABE.jpg?smart=true&auth=dd705769a7007aac60456d2f9ad5cffeb1d1e8df48a78050202d986a142ce88d&width=400&height=225)
Al Khayle Mosque's prayer hall.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L6GOYWAY6RHPHP4R2YVMTZMCXM.jpg?smart=true&auth=377a37d912b721e4403b460a6bf5560ebf18c9ec7542c384c7d9f12e84539591&width=400&height=225)
Worshippers leave Al Khayle Mosque in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, after the first fajr prayers of Ramadan.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XZUKIN2QWRFELGWMFL5CC5PSAI.jpg?smart=true&auth=75ce5aeab6ec784dd4713e296d850161b60768d14f5b10749e37d1870972bb76&width=400&height=225)
Worshippers at fajr prayers on the first day of Ramadan at Al Khayle Mosque, Khalifa City in Abu Dhabi. All photos: Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2DB3A22CBZBRXIUN5N72VCGZJU.jpg?smart=true&auth=3841e499dc4e5829763f9a2e11956c20e082c5fa3802195a41e5b5a0fc3cd56d&width=400&height=225)
Worshippers are observing the most regular holy month since 2019 because of easing Covid-19 rules.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LOZXWPHIEFF2ZJJDUQ672XLZC4.jpg?smart=true&auth=170f49f578cdfec62399788c7907bf7b16b6913374dc30cb4e47a853e7e0b53c&width=400&height=225)
An Al Khayle Mosque worshipper with misbaha prayer beads.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UQ4EHQC5EBB4RGA4LTCEPBNFFQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=1a0f03aa60941a91c33eb77e85a971e0c27313724237be5773ee8df706f6763a&width=400&height=225)
Guidelines including the wearing of masks in mosques remain.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XUMYPQR55JDEFNJY3JPUVKUXTQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=cf12146b5037d02bd37507b044344458d8eab33e253e23f1814b22350521faf8&width=400&height=225)
Prayer times have returned to normal after being affected for two years by the pandemic.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z3RN7LHD3BBRVE3NA5ZAKVCKVI.jpg?smart=true&auth=30d4cc51912036dc0fdd317545439e6fec95603acabfc2018b7f950bc0110776&width=400&height=225)
Taraweeh prayers — night prayers performed during Ramadan — will be held in mosques again during this holy month.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B5ZWF24NBRFCFEHU752BXKKXDU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c1eab7d2e7429f12dafd1554807ac95ecaa1f4e2d997d28856f7d24656550c2c&width=400&height=225)
During the last 10 nights of Ramadan, tahajjud prayers will also be held from midnight onwards.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HUOJ43DMAZC7NC4NRXONMF7TQE.jpg?smart=true&auth=af33835f7206150db3d38fb1631dc0fb4ed3d4ca1a3d20cd740b063d8b0bf098&width=400&height=225)
A boy reads the Quran during the fajr prayer on the first day of Ramadan at Al Khayle Mosque, Khalifa City.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3H36ZEFH3JGLXHZETWHG3X42S4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e420dbdcf3cbed796b557906a9541cbe33ddd7e7a53bfdaca14744cde3288599&width=400&height=225)
Worshippers at prayer.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AZHJIEGRPNAPBLTASQZHJI7CCU.jpg?smart=true&auth=051223ef4923d5441ec5643917b4a486b4089f8cadac0236aed1ac0bfc15adaa&width=400&height=225)
A worshipper kneels in prayer.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GYA3NTT3ZVHQHL2GYGMODS3TKI.jpg?smart=true&auth=7885dae15495f4f0f2baf84accdd9f682aa420373d4f4b0887df35c180a3e9f4&width=400&height=225)
A large attendance at the mosque.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IXAJ42L7MRCXBOVIO4SNWAGABE.jpg?smart=true&auth=dd705769a7007aac60456d2f9ad5cffeb1d1e8df48a78050202d986a142ce88d&width=400&height=225)
Al Khayle Mosque's prayer hall.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L6GOYWAY6RHPHP4R2YVMTZMCXM.jpg?smart=true&auth=377a37d912b721e4403b460a6bf5560ebf18c9ec7542c384c7d9f12e84539591&width=400&height=225)
Worshippers leave Al Khayle Mosque in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, after the first fajr prayers of Ramadan.
Here's why the UAE will observe two Ramadans in 2030
The Islamic Hijri calendar is based on lunar cycles and it takes 33 years to complete a full cycle
![Kelly Clarke](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F0d1398b1-947f-4bc8-a663-69c6b02cb849.png?smart=true&auth=168c867e0c9f9e3320a65ec2cb755dfde78d4c07327944646c4aad65792033ee&width=70&height=70)
Kelly Clarke
21 March, 2023
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