Dubai: This year’s Ramadan Forum, running from July 3-14, will include live English translation of Arabic religious lectures and provide broadcasts on dedicated smartphone apps.
The annual event will also host — for the 12 days of the forum — the long Taraweeh prayer traditionally held in Ramadan right after the usual night prayer.
The forum, now in its 13th year, will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) for the second year in a row.
Popular Islamic motivational speaker Dr Zakir Naik is returning on stage this year — on July 10 — to present a lecture titled ‘If the Label Shows Your Intent, Wear it’.
In 2013, 9,000 people attended his lecture, organisers said. In total, last year’s forum attracted 100,000 people.
The event features famous Muslim speakers discussing various Islamic topics, mostly in Arabic, after Taraweeh prayers. However, all the five Arabic lectures this year will have live English translations on headphones.
There will also be lectures in English, Urdu, Bengali, Malayalam and Tagalog.
Meanwhile, the prayers — with separate space for women — will be held in DWTC’s Zabeel Hall at 9pm, while the lectures will start at 10.40pm.
Attendance and parking for the event will be free as usual.
Participants attending any lecture will be able to register for the next lecture by sending a ‘Short Code’ displayed on screen during the session. They will also be able to register on the event website, almultaqa.ae, and via the Apple and Android apps.
Those registered stand a chance to win daily prizes, including Samsung S5 smartphones, Apple iPad Air tablets, and an Umrah trip to Makkah.
The forum is also organising two Ramadan tents — in Muhaisnah 2 and Hor Al Anz — for labourers, who will receive meals to end their fast. Some 120,000 meals in total will be provided throughout Ramadan.
The annual event is organised by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and held under the patronage of Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairman of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation.
Hamad Bin Mejren, executive director of business tourism at DTCM and general coordinator for the 13th Ramadan Forum, said: “Last year, we had the honour of welcoming His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai. His visit left a great impact on the organisers, the committee and the audience.”
