Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Unsplash
With the holy month of Ramadan around the corner, the UAE has announced new Covid-19 safety measures to be mindful of. Although more than 50% of the UAE population has been vaccinated with nearly seven million vaccines through 205 centres, efforts to combat the spread of the virus are still being put into place. The month of Ramadan, which is expected to start on April 12 this year, is often celebrated with communal gatherings and activities.
In light of the ongoing pandemic, The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) has set forth a list of measures.
• Avoid all evening gatherings during Ramadan, limit family visits and the exchange of meals between households. Only members living in the same household can share meals.
• Family and institutional iftars in public areas and the distribution of meals outside of homes and mosques are prohibited. Those wishing to donate meals can do so through charities.
• Zakah is encouraged to be given electronically.
• Restaurants cannot distribute meals- outside or inside the restaurants.
• Taraweeh prayers will be held in accordance with Covid-19 precautionary measures.
• Iftar meals are no longer allowed inside mosques and isha and taraweeh prayers will be limited to a maximum of 30 minutes.
• Mosques will be closed immediately after each prayer.
• Participants of religious lessons/meetings that take place in mosques must join them virtually.
• It is encouraged to read the Quran through an electronic device.
• Prayers during the last 10 days of Ramadan known as Qiyam-ul-layl will depend on the status of the pandemic and an assessment will be made according to new developments.
#NCEMA: We call on everyone to cooperate and adhere to measures and instructions, as intensive inspection campaigns will be carried out during Ramadan, and legal measures will be taken against all violators, whether individuals or institutions.#TogetherWeRecover
— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) March 16, 2021
Advising the strict following of these measures, the NCEMA said: “We call on everyone to cooperate and adhere to measures and instructions, as intensive inspection campaigns will be carried out during Ramadan, and legal measures will be taken against all violators, whether individuals or institutions.”
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