UAE announces Eid Al Fitr prayers to be held inside mosques only

Eid Al Fitr prayers this year in the UAE will be limited to mosques for security reasons, the General Authority for Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat announced on Wednesday.

Gatherings in Eid prayer grounds or open areas will be restricted and worship services will be held only in mosques, the authority clarified. This step, they said, aligns with the measures taken by the country to ensure the safety of faithful.

The Islamic Affairs Department and Charitable Work in Dubai, and the Islamic Affairs Department in Sharjah, have also coordinated with authorities to make this decision, according to the announcement.

The authority has urged worshippers to adhere to guidelines and arrive early to perform the Eid prayer in mosques to ensure their safety.

The UAE’s Moon-Sighting Committee will search the skies for the Shawwal crescent on the 29th of Ramadan, which falls on Wednesday, March 18.