Dubai: Police iftar cannons are ready for Ramadan and will be distributed across the city, the General Administration of Services and Facilities at Dubai Police revealed. The cannons will be fired to announce the start of Ramadan and the daily iftar time.
“We’ve kept up with the tradition of firing iftar cannons since the early ’60s,” Lt Zain Salim Nasser Al Kayumi, director of the weapons and ammunitions department at the administration, said.
Lt Al Kayumi said the department has six cannons at its disposal. “We have four core cannons and two reserve, in case one of the main guns malfunctions,” he said. “A total of 20 people, five in each group, have been assigned to ensure the cannons are shuttled to their designated locations in Deira, Burj Khalifa, Karama and Jumeirah Beach Residence.”
A single shot will be fired to announce the iftar time and two shots will be fired to mark the start of the holy month and the commencement of Eid.
“For this year’s Ramadan, all the arrangements for the iftar cannons have already been finalised. We’re simply waiting for the sighting of the first crescent and the commencement of the holy month.”
The cannons used are British-made PDR MK1L Conons 25, which use 25mm calibre ammunition and has a sound range of 170 decibels.
“The cannons have to be regularly maintained so they retain their stunning traditional shape and function,” he said. “However, they may not be audible in some residential areas due to the urban development.”
Lt Al Kayumi added that the cannons have become one of the local symbols of the holy month, saying “tour companies are adding them to their tourist routes”.
