The UAE will commence the holy month of Ramadan on Monday, March 11, following the sighting of the crescent moon on the evening of March 10, as announced by the country’s Moon-sighting committee. This sighting marks the beginning of Ramadan according to the Islamic Hijri calendar, where months last either 29 or 30 days depending on the moon’s visibility. The preceding month of Sha’ban concluded after 29 days, making March 11 the first day of Ramadan.
As heavy rains over the weekend have brought temperatures down, the UAE is set to experience a pleasant climate for fasting during the early spring weather of March and April, with temperatures rising as the month progresses.
During Ramadan, Muslims engage in additional prayers known as Taraweeh, performed after the Isha (night) prayer. With the moon’s sighting, Taraweeh prayers are to begin from the evening of March 10 across mosques in the UAE, typically consisting of eight units (rakat) followed by three of Witr, and lasting between 30 minutes to an hour.
Another significant practice, the Qiyam-ul-layl prayers, will commence on the night of Saturday, March 30, during the last 10 days of Ramadan. These special late-night prayers, longer than Taraweeh, can last from 1.5 to three hours and are hosted after midnight in most mosques.
The first day of fasting will start with the Fajr prayer at 5:15 am, ending with the Maghrib prayer at 6:29 pm, totaling 13 hours and 14 minutes of fasting. As the month advances, the fasting duration will gradually extend, reaching almost 14 hours towards the month’s end.