Nezar Hezam Sallam, an astronomer searching for the new crescent Moon. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Nezar Hezam Sallam, an astronomer searching for the new crescent Moon. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Nezar Hezam Sallam, an astronomer searching for the new crescent Moon. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Nezar Hezam Sallam, an astronomer searching for the new crescent Moon. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Ramadan: UAE Moon-sighting committee to search the skies on Tuesday


  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE's Moon-sighting committee will meet on Tuesday evening to determine the start of Ramadan.

If the new crescent is spotted, fasting will begin at dawn on Wednesday.

If the spotters cannot see it due to clouds, they will meet the following evening and fasting will not begin until Thursday at the earliest.

The committee will meet after the Maghreb prayer at the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.

The meeting will be attended by several high-ranking officials and led by Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Minister of Justice.

According to Wam, Sharia courts across the country will monitor and notify the committee of any sightings, while the Lunar Calendar Committee will report its findings to the Moon-sighting Committee.

On Sunday, the Supreme Court in Saudi Arabia called on the public to look for the crescent Moon from Tuesday.

Ramadan is observed by more than 1.8 billion Muslims and is believed to be the month when the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed.

Fasting during the holy month is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is mandatory for all Muslims who are in good health.

Those exempt include young children, anyone who is sick, travellers and women who are pregnant, nursing or menstruating.

Ramadan is also considered a nocturnal month for Muslims who end their daily fast at sunset, then begin longer-form Taraweeh prayers that are traditionally followed by social gatherings that last into the night.

Moon-sighting significance

The sighting of the Moon signifies the start and the end of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

Religious authorities in the Middle East and beyond will soon begin scanning the night sky for the first glimpse of a crescent Moon.

In the Islamic lunar calendar, Ramadan is preceded by the month of Shabaan.

The month of fasting and spirituality begins when Moon-sighting committees convene after sunset on Shabaan 29 to look for a crescent Moon, in a tradition that has lasted thousands of years.

The crescent Moon is an important symbol in Islam and is used in Ramadan decorations.

It can often be seen hung outside homes, on Ramadan lanterns and even on gift-wrapped chocolates, dates and sweets exchanged by family, friends and neighbours.

Ramadan preparations around the world: in pictures

  • A worker cleans part of the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque ahead of Ramadan, in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. AFP
    A worker cleans part of the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque ahead of Ramadan, in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. AFP
  • Ramadan lights lit up at Piccadilly Circus in central London for the first time. Reuters
    Ramadan lights lit up at Piccadilly Circus in central London for the first time. Reuters
  • A vendor prepares khajla deep-fried pastry in Karachi, ahead of the holy month. EPA
    A vendor prepares khajla deep-fried pastry in Karachi, ahead of the holy month. EPA
  • Palestinians add the final touches to a crescent moon and star decoration in preparation for Ramadan, just outside Jerusalem's Old City. AP
    Palestinians add the final touches to a crescent moon and star decoration in preparation for Ramadan, just outside Jerusalem's Old City. AP
  • A member of the Saudi security forces stands on duty at an entrance to the Grand Mosque of Makkah ahead of Ramadan, with the holy city's Clock Tower in the background. AFP
    A member of the Saudi security forces stands on duty at an entrance to the Grand Mosque of Makkah ahead of Ramadan, with the holy city's Clock Tower in the background. AFP
  • A man carries a traditional lantern at Sayyeda Zeinab Ramadan market in Cairo, before the start of the holy month. AFP
    A man carries a traditional lantern at Sayyeda Zeinab Ramadan market in Cairo, before the start of the holy month. AFP
  • Palestinian artisan Maan Al Muhtaseb makes traditional lanterns and decorations ahead of Ramadan in Hebron city in the occupied West Bank. AFP
    Palestinian artisan Maan Al Muhtaseb makes traditional lanterns and decorations ahead of Ramadan in Hebron city in the occupied West Bank. AFP
  • Visiting graves at a Covid-19 cemetery in Depok, Indonesia. The practice is one of the traditions carried out by Muslims before Ramadan in the South-east Asian country. EPA
    Visiting graves at a Covid-19 cemetery in Depok, Indonesia. The practice is one of the traditions carried out by Muslims before Ramadan in the South-east Asian country. EPA
  • An Egyptian family out shopping for traditional decorative Ramadan lanterns, called Fanous, in the Sayyidah Zaynab district in Cairo. Reuters
    An Egyptian family out shopping for traditional decorative Ramadan lanterns, called Fanous, in the Sayyidah Zaynab district in Cairo. Reuters
  • Palestinian workers sort and pack dates at a factory in preparation for the holy month in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP
    Palestinian workers sort and pack dates at a factory in preparation for the holy month in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP
  • A torch parade to welcome the holy month that will start around March 23, in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. AFP
    A torch parade to welcome the holy month that will start around March 23, in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. AFP
  • A Ramadan lantern is hung on a wall painted in vivid colours in the Zeitun district of Gaza city. AFP
    A Ramadan lantern is hung on a wall painted in vivid colours in the Zeitun district of Gaza city. AFP
  • An Egyptian buys a Ramadan lantern at a workshop in Cairo. EPA
    An Egyptian buys a Ramadan lantern at a workshop in Cairo. EPA
  • Street decorations for the holy month of Ramadan in Giza, Egypt. EPA
    Street decorations for the holy month of Ramadan in Giza, Egypt. EPA
  • Architect Shahed Saleem in the Ramadan Pavilion at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, on show until May 1. PA
    Architect Shahed Saleem in the Ramadan Pavilion at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, on show until May 1. PA
  • Palestinian artisan Reham Shurab makes traditional 'fanous' lanterns at her home workshop in the Gaza Strip. AFP
    Palestinian artisan Reham Shurab makes traditional 'fanous' lanterns at her home workshop in the Gaza Strip. AFP
  • Workers sew women's prayer clothes called Mukenah at the Siti Khadijah clothing factory in Depok, Indonesia. EPA
    Workers sew women's prayer clothes called Mukenah at the Siti Khadijah clothing factory in Depok, Indonesia. EPA
  • Shoppers buy fresh produce at the Sidi Moussa market in Morocco's Atlantic coastal city of Sale. AFP
    Shoppers buy fresh produce at the Sidi Moussa market in Morocco's Atlantic coastal city of Sale. AFP

The Birkin bag is made by Hermès. 
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.

Aldar Properties Abu Dhabi T10

*November 15 to November 24

*Venue: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi

*Tickets: Start at Dh10, from ttensports.com

*TV: Ten Sports

*Streaming: Jio Live

*2017 winners: Kerala Kings

*2018 winners: Northern Warriors

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Friday Valladolid v Osasuna (Kick-off midnight UAE)

Saturday Valencia v Athletic Bilbao (5pm), Getafe v Sevilla (7.15pm), Huesca v Alaves (9.30pm), Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid (midnight)

Sunday Real Sociedad v Eibar (5pm), Real Betis v Villarreal (7.15pm), Elche v Granada (9.30pm), Barcelona v Levante (midnight)

Monday Celta Vigo v Cadiz (midnight)

RESULTS

6.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh82.500 (Dirt) 1,400m

Winner Meshakel, Royston Ffrench (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)

7.05pm Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m

Winner Gervais, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

7.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (Turf) 2,410m

Winner Global Heat, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.

8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,900m

Winner Firnas, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.

8.50pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (D) 1,600m

Winner Rebel’s Romance, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

9.25pm Dubai Trophy (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (T) 1,200m

Winner Topper Bill, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

10pm Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,400m

Winner Wasim, Mickael Barzalona, Ismail Mohammed.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Sarfira

Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal 

Rating: 2/5

Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021

Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”

Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”

The specs: 2019 Cadillac XT4

Price, base: Dh145,000

Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engine

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic

Power: 237hp @ 5,000rpm

Torque: 350Nm @ 1,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km

The National selections

Al Ain

5pm: Bolereau
5.30pm: Rich And Famous
6pm: Duc De Faust
6.30pm: Al Thoura​​​​​​​
7pm: AF Arrab​​​​​​​
7.30pm: Al Jazi​​​​​​​
8pm: Futoon

Jebel Ali

1.45pm: AF Kal Noor​​​​​​​
2.15pm: Galaxy Road
2.45pm: Dark Thunder
3.15pm: Inverleigh​​​​​​​
3.45pm: Bawaasil​​​​​​​
4.15pm: Initial
4.45pm: Tafaakhor

INFO
The%20Emperor%20and%20the%20Elephant
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESam%20Ottewill-Soulsby%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPrinceton%20University%20Press%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E392%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJuly%2011%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: March 22, 2023, 4:32 AM