The holy month of Ramadan is set to begin tomorrow, March 23, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Muslims across the country will observe fasting from dawn to dusk during the month-long religious event.
This year, the fasting hours will be shorter due to the spring season, which started on Tuesday. Muslims will fast for 13 hours and 43 minutes on the first day of Ramadan. The gap between Imsak (the time when Muslims stop eating before the Fajr prayer) and Iftar (the time when Muslims break their fast) will gradually increase throughout the month.
On Ramadan 15, fasting hours will be 14 hours and four minutes, and by the end of the month, it will be nearly 14-and-a-half hours. The holy month is expected to last for 29 days, according to astronomical calculations.
Apart from fasting, Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection and prayer. Special Iftar tents will be set up outside mosques, and prayers will last well into the evening.
Taraweeh prayers, which are offered in congregation in mosques during the month, will also take place a few minutes after the Isha prayer.
The UAE will also get its first long weekend of 2023 for Eid Al Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. The official holiday is from Ramadan 29 to Shawwal 3, which is expected to be from Thursday, April 20, to Sunday, April 23, if the astronomical calculations are correct.
As the holy month begins, the UAE wishes all its citizens and residents a blessed Ramadan Kareem.
