The Blue Mosque in Jumeirah, Dubai. ARCHIVE

Eid Al Fitr will begin in the UAE on Friday (March 20), authorities have confirmed, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The announcement followed a meeting of the country’s moon-sighting committee on Wednesday evening (March 18), when experts attempted to observe the crescent moon that signals the start of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. As the moon was not sighted, officials confirmed that Thursday (March 19), will complete the 30th and final day of Ramadan. Earlier, the UAE Council for Fatwa had called on residents to look to the skies and report any sightings to support the official process. Eid Al Fitr is one of the most important occasions in Islam. It is traditionally marked by special morning prayers, family gatherings, gift-giving and charitable acts. This year’s celebrations come amid heightened regional tensions. Authorities in the UAE have introduced precautionary measures to ensure public safety during the holiday. Eid prayers will be held inside mosques instead of open-air prayer grounds. The move was announced by the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai in coordination with the Department of Islamic Affairs in Sharjah. “The Authority calls on worshippers to adhere to the guidelines and arrive early to perform the Eid prayer in mosques to ensure their safety,” the government media office said. Meanwhile, residents across the UAE can expect an extended break for the holiday. According to the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, public and private sector holidays will begin on Thursday, March 19. Work will resume on Monday, March 23, giving workers a long weekend to celebrate with family and loved ones. ICA/CAM/Expat Media
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