UAE updates Covid-19 protocols for mosques during Ramadan

The UAE has updated Covid-19 protocols for worshippers in mosques ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.

The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) took to Twitter to announce that Taraweeh prayers will be held during the entire holy month, while Tahajjud prayers will be performed during the last ten days of Ramadan with certain regulations.

Distance of one metre between worshippers continues to remains in effect. A total of 45 minutes will be devoted to the Isha (night) prayer combined with the Taraweeh prayer and Witr. Meanwhile, no more than 45 minutes will be allocated to the Tahajjud prayer in the last ten days of the month. Worshippers can pray in a straight line again rather than the ziz-zag format introduced during the pandemic.

#NCEMA: We announce the recent updates on mosques protocol for the Holy Month of Ramadan, as we expanded the scope of receiving worshipers and resumed many of the procedures that were halted due to the circumstances of the #COVID19 pandemic.
#TogetherWeRecover pic.twitter.com/FUH7sbLCCK

— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) March 30, 2022

Women’s prayer halls will also return to normal during Ramadan, while bottled or canned water will be allowed. Meanwhile volunteers must be present to monitor the precautionary measures in prayer halls, such as wearing masks and using single-use prayer mats.

#NCEMA: The protocol states that the distance of one meter between worshipers will remain in effect, while allowing Tarawih prayers to be held throughout the entirety of the Holy Month, and Tahajjud prayers in the last ten days of Ramadan while following certain regulations. pic.twitter.com/PNeeLf7jfa

— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) March 30, 2022

NCEMA added that all announced procedures will be subject to continuous supervision and monitoring during the first week of the holy month and would be modified if necessary.