Dubai releases updated digital version of new Islamic year

Dubai: The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) in Dubai on Tuesday launched an online version of the new Hijri (Islamic year) calendar. The new Hijri year, 1443, began on Tuesday.

The digital calendar includes the prayer times, religious occasions, and official holidays in the UAE according to Sharia (Islamic law). It is based on scientific and astronomical calculations considered by scholars.

The online Hijri calendar, free for all community members, is available in its electronic version on the IACAD website and on the IACAD smart app. The daily calendar is also available via IACAD’s official social media accounts, as well as by subscribing to the free service available via social media applications. For more inquiries, people can call the toll-free number 800600.

He added: “On this occasion, we remind all Muslims around the world of a specialised website, ‘The Global Platform for Prayer Times’, which helps knowing the prayer times for any part of the world.”

The website was launched last year in partnership with the International Astronomy Centre, Al Shaibani said.

A group of specialists in IACAD is working on the Hijri calendar to set prayer times for mosques in Dubai emirate. The calendar also includes a group of rulings, sermons, dates of religious and national events and official holidays during 1443 (2021 – 2022). Examples include the date of the first day of Ramadan, Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha.