• People receive free sweet drinks for iftar in Peshawar, Pakistan. EPA
    People receive free sweet drinks for iftar in Peshawar, Pakistan. EPA
  • Muslim worshipers perform taraweeh prayers for Ramadan at Al Basha Mosque in Mosul, Iraq. Reuters
    Muslim worshipers perform taraweeh prayers for Ramadan at Al Basha Mosque in Mosul, Iraq. Reuters
  • Policeman Ahmed fires a traditional Ramadan cannon to announce iftar in Cairo, Egypt. EPA
    Policeman Ahmed fires a traditional Ramadan cannon to announce iftar in Cairo, Egypt. EPA
  • A girl at Quran recitation classes during Ramadan in Srinagar, Indian-controlled Kashmir. AP
    A girl at Quran recitation classes during Ramadan in Srinagar, Indian-controlled Kashmir. AP
  • Confectioners prepare traditional sweets for Ramadan in the Sadria district of central Baghdad. AFP
    Confectioners prepare traditional sweets for Ramadan in the Sadria district of central Baghdad. AFP
  • Muslim students offer prayers during Ramadan at an Islamic boarding school in Medan, Indonesia. AFP
    Muslim students offer prayers during Ramadan at an Islamic boarding school in Medan, Indonesia. AFP
  • A Muslim woman views Canary Wharf in the City of London during an Iftar event at 22 Bishopsgate. EPA
    A Muslim woman views Canary Wharf in the City of London during an Iftar event at 22 Bishopsgate. EPA
  • Morocco's King Mohammed VI and Crown Prince Moulay launch the nationwide Ramadan 1444 operation in the city of Sale, north of the capital Rabat, to assist five million disadvantaged Moroccans in Ramadan. AFP
    Morocco's King Mohammed VI and Crown Prince Moulay launch the nationwide Ramadan 1444 operation in the city of Sale, north of the capital Rabat, to assist five million disadvantaged Moroccans in Ramadan. AFP
  • Volunteers prepare Ramadan pre-dawn suhoor meals for distribution in the southern suburbs of Beirut on Saturday. AFP
    Volunteers prepare Ramadan pre-dawn suhoor meals for distribution in the southern suburbs of Beirut on Saturday. AFP
  • Afghanistan and Pakistan’s T20 teams pray together on the second day of Ramadan before play at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Afghanistan and Pakistan’s T20 teams pray together on the second day of Ramadan before play at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Worshippers attend prayers on the first Friday of the holy month at the Kocatepe Mosque in Ankara, Turkey. AFP
    Worshippers attend prayers on the first Friday of the holy month at the Kocatepe Mosque in Ankara, Turkey. AFP
  • An iftar cannon is fired at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi on the first Friday of Ramadan. Victor Besa / The National
    An iftar cannon is fired at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi on the first Friday of Ramadan. Victor Besa / The National
  • Muslims after Friday prayers at the Ali Jim'ale Mosque in Mogadishu, Somalia. Reuters
    Muslims after Friday prayers at the Ali Jim'ale Mosque in Mogadishu, Somalia. Reuters
  • Men pray at the Grand Mosque, Khartoum. AP
    Men pray at the Grand Mosque, Khartoum. AP
  • Prayers at the main mosque during Ramadan in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. EPA
    Prayers at the main mosque during Ramadan in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. EPA
  • Worshippers after prayers on first day of Ramadan at the Kowloon Mosque in Hong Kong. AP
    Worshippers after prayers on first day of Ramadan at the Kowloon Mosque in Hong Kong. AP
  • Visitors buy cotton candy at an entertainment area in Tripoli. AFP
    Visitors buy cotton candy at an entertainment area in Tripoli. AFP
  • Muslims break their fast in a street in Abidjan in Ivory Coast. EPA
    Muslims break their fast in a street in Abidjan in Ivory Coast. EPA
  • Palestinians celebrate the lighting of Ramadan lanterns in Jerusalem's Old City. EPA
    Palestinians celebrate the lighting of Ramadan lanterns in Jerusalem's Old City. EPA
  • A street lit up for Ramadan in the West End of London. EPA
    A street lit up for Ramadan in the West End of London. EPA
  • Ukrainian Muslims break their fast at the Ar-Rahma Mosque in Kyiv. EPA
    Ukrainian Muslims break their fast at the Ar-Rahma Mosque in Kyiv. EPA
  • Muslims gather for free Iftar meals at Sheikh Abdul Qader Gilani mosque in Baghdad. AP
    Muslims gather for free Iftar meals at Sheikh Abdul Qader Gilani mosque in Baghdad. AP
  • Muslims gather before the Kaaba in Makkah as they perform the maghrib prayer to mark the end of the first day of fasting at the Grand Mosque. AFP
    Muslims gather before the Kaaba in Makkah as they perform the maghrib prayer to mark the end of the first day of fasting at the Grand Mosque. AFP
  • Muslims seated for iftar in Adiyaman, Turkey. EPA
    Muslims seated for iftar in Adiyaman, Turkey. EPA
  • A volunteer prepares iftar food at the Data Darbar shrine in Lahore, Pakistan. AFP
    A volunteer prepares iftar food at the Data Darbar shrine in Lahore, Pakistan. AFP
  • A Palestinian woman reads the Quran during the first day of Ramadan, at Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem. Reuters
    A Palestinian woman reads the Quran during the first day of Ramadan, at Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem. Reuters
  • People look through binoculars and a telescope to view the crescent moon marking the start of Ramadan, in Najaf, Iraq. Reuters
    People look through binoculars and a telescope to view the crescent moon marking the start of Ramadan, in Najaf, Iraq. Reuters
  • Prayers at Al Bidya Mosque in Fujairah, the oldest mosque in the UAE, a day before Ramadan. Leslie Pableo for The National
    Prayers at Al Bidya Mosque in Fujairah, the oldest mosque in the UAE, a day before Ramadan. Leslie Pableo for The National
  • Women pray during the first evening of Ramadan at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Solo, Indonesia. Reuters
    Women pray during the first evening of Ramadan at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Solo, Indonesia. Reuters
  • Members of the Muslim Scout Association play drums during events to mark the beginning of the holy fasting month, in Sidon, Lebanon. Reuters
    Members of the Muslim Scout Association play drums during events to mark the beginning of the holy fasting month, in Sidon, Lebanon. Reuters
  • Worshippers perform taraweeh evening prayers at Al Azhar Mosque, in Cairo. Reuters
    Worshippers perform taraweeh evening prayers at Al Azhar Mosque, in Cairo. Reuters
  • A tent mosque set up after February's powerful earthquake in Kahramanmaras, Turkey. EPA
    A tent mosque set up after February's powerful earthquake in Kahramanmaras, Turkey. EPA
  • A man sits inside a mosque on the first day of Ramadan, in Marikina, the Philippines. AP
    A man sits inside a mosque on the first day of Ramadan, in Marikina, the Philippines. AP
  • The first morning prayers of Ramadan at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    The first morning prayers of Ramadan at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • A Palestinian man sells traditional Ramadan lanterns, called fanous, in Gaza City. EPA
    A Palestinian man sells traditional Ramadan lanterns, called fanous, in Gaza City. EPA
  • A woman shops for Ramadan decorations, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Reuters
    A woman shops for Ramadan decorations, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Reuters
  • Abu Dhabi's Bani Hashim Mosque, on the first morning of Ramadan. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Abu Dhabi's Bani Hashim Mosque, on the first morning of Ramadan. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Ramadan 2023 begins around the world - in pictures


  • English
  • Arabic

More from The National:

How to save on your supermarket bills during Ramadan

Ramadan after Covid is a time to pause and reflect

Sixteen Arabic shows to watch during Ramadan, including Bab Al Hara and Game Show

UAE Food Bank launches Ramadan 2023 drive to deliver three million meals to the needy

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinFlx%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202021%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amr%20Yussif%20(co-founder%20and%20CEO)%2C%20Mattieu%20Capelle%20(co-founder%20and%20CTO)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%20in%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%241.5m%20pre-seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Venture%20capital%20-%20Y%20Combinator%2C%20500%20Global%2C%20Dubai%20Future%20District%20Fund%2C%20Fox%20Ventures%2C%20Vector%20Fintech.%20Also%20a%20number%20of%20angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
The biogs

Name: Zinah Madi

Occupation: Co-founder of Dots and links

Nationality: Syrian

Family: Married, Mother of Tala, 18, Sharif, 14, Kareem, 2

Favourite Quote: “There is only one way to succeed in anything, and that is to give it everything.”

 

Name: Razan Nabulsi

Occupation: Co-founder of Dots and Links

Nationality: Jordanian

Family: Married, Mother of Yahya, 3.5

Favourite Quote: A Chinese proverb that says: “Be not afraid of moving slowly, be afraid only of standing still.”

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Who are the Soroptimists?

The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.

The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.

Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.

The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km

Price: Dh133,900

On sale: now 

David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

hall of shame

SUNDERLAND 2002-03

No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.

SUNDERLAND 2005-06

Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.

HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19

Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.

ASTON VILLA 2015-16

Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.

FULHAM 2018-19

Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.

LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.

BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66

NO OTHER LAND

Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal

Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham

Rating: 3.5/5

Wicked: For Good

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater

Rating: 4/5

PROFILE BOX

Company name: Overwrite.ai

Founder: Ayman Alashkar

Started: Established in 2020

Based: Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai

Sector: PropTech

Initial investment: Self-funded by founder

Funding stage: Seed funding, in talks with angel investors

HAEMOGLOBIN DISORDERS EXPLAINED

Thalassaemia is part of a family of genetic conditions affecting the blood known as haemoglobin disorders.

Haemoglobin is a substance in the red blood cells that carries oxygen and a lack of it triggers anemia, leaving patients very weak, short of breath and pale.

The most severe type of the condition is typically inherited when both parents are carriers. Those patients often require regular blood transfusions - about 450 of the UAE's 2,000 thalassaemia patients - though frequent transfusions can lead to too much iron in the body and heart and liver problems.

The condition mainly affects people of Mediterranean, South Asian, South-East Asian and Middle Eastern origin. Saudi Arabia recorded 45,892 cases of carriers between 2004 and 2014.

A World Health Organisation study estimated that globally there are at least 950,000 'new carrier couples' every year and annually there are 1.33 million at-risk pregnancies.

The bio

Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France

Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines

Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.

Favourite Author: My father for sure

Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst

Test

Director: S Sashikanth

Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan

Star rating: 2/5

The biog

Name: Mohammed Imtiaz

From: Gujranwala, Pakistan

Arrived in the UAE: 1976

Favourite clothes to make: Suit

Cost of a hand-made suit: From Dh550

 

Pakistanis%20at%20the%20ILT20%20
%3Cp%3EThe%20new%20UAE%20league%20has%20been%20boosted%20this%20season%20by%20the%20arrival%20of%20five%20Pakistanis%2C%20who%20were%20not%20released%20to%20play%20last%20year.%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%0D%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EShaheen%20Afridi%20(Desert%20Vipers)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ESet%20for%20at%20least%20four%20matches%2C%20having%20arrived%20from%20New%20Zealand%20where%20he%20captained%20Pakistan%20in%20a%20series%20loss.%20%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EShadab%20Khan%20(Desert%20Vipers)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%0DThe%20leg-spin%20bowling%20allrounder%20missed%20the%20tour%20of%20New%20Zealand%20after%20injuring%20an%20ankle%20when%20stepping%20on%20a%20ball.%20%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAzam%20Khan%20(Desert%20Vipers)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EPowerhouse%20wicketkeeper%20played%20three%20games%20for%20Pakistan%20on%20tour%20in%20New%20Zealand.%20He%20was%20the%20first%20Pakistani%20recruited%20to%20the%20ILT20.%20%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMohammed%20Amir%20(Desert%20Vipers)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EHas%20made%20himself%20unavailable%20for%20national%20duty%2C%20meaning%20he%20will%20be%20available%20for%20the%20entire%20ILT20%20campaign.%20%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EImad%20Wasim%20(Abu%20Dhabi%20Knight%20Riders)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20left-handed%20allrounder%2C%2035%2C%20retired%20from%20international%20cricket%20in%20November%20and%20was%20subsequently%20recruited%20by%20the%20Knight%20Riders.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

The specs: 2018 Kia Picanto

Price: From Dh39,500

Engine: 1.2L inline four-cylinder

Transmission: Four-speed auto

Power: 86hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 122Nm @ 4,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 6.0L / 100km

Updated: March 23, 2023, 7:07 AM