Police distribute six Ramadan cannons to announce iftar timings

Dubai: Police have distributed Ramadan cannons across various parts of the city to mark the timings for iftar.

Final arrangements were made on Thursday before the moon-sighting committee came together.

“Since the early 60s, the firing of the cannon was entrusted to Dubai Police to mark the end of the fast at sunset.

“The first military cannons, which were made by the British, are still in our possession and are regularly maintained so that we can keep the memory of its significance and its beauty alive,” said Major Abdullah Mubarak Bin Misbah, head of weapons in the public administration services and equipment department at Dubai Police.

As part of the authority’s capacity in keeping the tradition alive, Dubai Police have assigned crews consisting of five men — one sergeant, one traffic officer and three soldiers — to bring the cannons into designated areas.

The cannons will be shot from Mussallah and Al Raas in Deira, from Bur Dubai at Mussallah in Karama, as well as at Safa Park in Jumeirah.