“We wish the Arab and muslim world a blessed month of Ramadan filled with love, tolerance and peace…”

On the first day of Ramadan 2019, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai took to Twitter to share heartfelt Ramadan greetings.

The tweet that appeared in Arabic, followed by English stated ‘We wish the Arab and Muslim world a blessed month of Ramadan filled with love, tolerance and peace.’

Monday, May 6 is officially the first day of Ramadan 2019 after the UAE Moon Sighting Committee sighted the new crescent moon on the previous Sunday night.

ALSO READ: Sheikh Mohammed releases 587 prisoners ahead of Ramadan

If you’re new to the country and unsure what Ramadan is all about? The Holy Month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is a time when Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking or smoking between sunrise and sunset

Ramadan lasts about a month, and it marks the time when the Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). 

Read our Ramadan guide to know more about this Holy Month and why it’s so important to our Muslim friends, learn why they fast, a list of do’s and don’ts and more.

Reduced working hours

An announcement made by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation stated that people working in private sectors will have reduced working hours throughout the holy month. For most companies,  there is usually a two-hour reduction from regular working hours.

This means that instead of working from 9am to 6pm, you will likely work from 9am to 4pm.

Reduced school timings

Children attending schools will also see their school timings reduce due to the Holy Month of Ramadan as well.

Mohammed Darwish, CEO of Permits and Compliance at Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) stated “Schools should ensure that the total hours at school per day for students do not exceed five hours”.

This means that school days will start between 8am and 8.30am and finish between 1pm to 1.30pm — with shorter breaks as required.

Parking timings

There’s also good news for car owners as well as the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) have announced split parking times for Ramadan 2019 in Dubai. From Saturday to Thursday, parking fees will apply between 8am and 6pm, and between 8pm and midnight.

The timings will remain the same in Tecom-regulated zones, with fees applicable from 8am to 6pm.

Iftar in Dubai

The Holy Month of Ramadan is the perfect time to learn more about the UAE’s heritage and culture, and attending an iftar is one of the greatest ways to immerse yourself in its traditions.

During Ramadan, iftar is the meal served at sunset to break the long day of fasting (the word literally means “break fast”). Friends and families often gather together for this meal, and many hotels and restaurants across Dubai put on a special feast for the occasion.

Even if you’re not fasting, anyone is welcome to come along and experience iftar. In fact, it’s a wonderful way to get into the spirit of the holy month.

Of course, with so many iftars available in the UAE, it’s often hard to pick the right one to try but check our guide here to some of the best iftars happening around Dubai. 

You can also choose to attend a Suhoor during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Suhoor is the pre-dawn meal consumed by fasters just before the sun appears, the term also means the gatherings that are held across the UAE from about 9pm over Ramadan.You can check out a list of Suhoors happening in Dubai here.

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