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UAE confirms start of Ramadan on Friday

The announcement came after the crescent was sighted on Thursday evening

April 23, 2020

The UAE’s moon-sighting committee has announced that Friday, April 24, 2020 will be the first day of the holy month of Ramadan in the country.

The announcement came after the crescent was sighted on Thursday evening, official news agency WAM reported.

#UAE declares Friday first day of #Ramadan #Wam pic.twitter.com/iO1w132KeS

— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) April 23, 2020

Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, is a time when Muslims across the world fast from sunrise to sunset.

On behalf of people and residents in the UAE, I wish All around the world a blessed Ramadan. May it bring us good health, prosperity and peace. Together, we will lead our world towards the better.

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) April 23, 2020

Fasting is expected to last for less than 15 hours per day this year in the UAE.

Read: Dubai bans gatherings of more than 10 people during Ramadan

The UAE has already announced reduced working hours for public sector workers in the country.

Read: UAE announces working hours for Ramadan 2020

The UAE’s Ministry of Education has also announced that students across the country will have reduced e-learning hours during the month of Ramadan.

The duration of the classes has been cut to 30 minutes for all students and the number of classes per week has also been reduced.

Read: UAE announces reduced timings for school students during Ramadan

The Emirates Fatwa Council has also issued five fatwas related to fasting, prayers and alms-giving during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Covid-19 patients may not fast when the virus symptoms appear and if they are told by the physicians that fasting will worsen their condition.

Also, frontline medical workers are permitted not to fast while on duty if they fear that fasting could lead to weakening their immunity or to losing their patients.