Open-air worship gatherings will not be permitted this Eid Al Fitr in the UAE, with the General Authority for Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat confirming that all prayers must be held inside mosques.
The authority cited public safety as the basis for the restriction, stating the move is consistent with broader national measures to protect worshippers. Prayer grounds and open areas traditionally used for Eid congregations will remain off-limits for the occasion.
Coordination on the decision extended to Dubai’s Islamic Affairs Department and Charitable Work as well as the Islamic Affairs Department in Sharjah, both of which aligned with federal authorities in implementing the policy. Worshippers have been advised to arrive at mosques ahead of time to ensure orderly and safe participation.
The timing of Eid Al Fitr itself remains subject to the moon-sighting process. The UAE’s Moon-Sighting Committee is scheduled to scan the skies for the Shawwal crescent on the 29th of Ramadan, which falls on Wednesday, March 18. A confirmed sighting would place Eid on Thursday, March 19, while a failed sighting would extend Ramadan to its full 30-day cycle, shifting the celebration to Friday, March 20.
Astronomical projections currently lean toward the latter — with calculations suggesting the crescent is unlikely to be visible on Wednesday, pointing to Friday as the more probable date for Eid.
