The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is a special time of the year for Muslims around the world. It usually runs for 29 or 30 days, during which Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise until sunset, every day. But there’s more to Ramadan than just abstinence from the worldly pleasures. Here are some key numbers to help you broaden your knowledge about the month-long observance in the UAE.
5 cannons
If you hear a loud thundering sound at sunset during Ramadan, don’t fret. The observance of the holy month isn’t complete without the firing of the cannons to mark the end of the fast. Located in five different areas - Deira, Bur Dubai, near Safa park, Jumeirah Beach Residence and Burj Khalifa - the cannons blast off once every day, just a few minutes before the sunset prayers, called Maghrib. Dubai has six cannons, but only five are being used for Ramadan so that there’s one on standby.
5.3 million Muslims
Based on estimates, the vast majority of residents in the UAE are Muslims, about 96 per cent of the population. Considering that the country’s total population, including non-Muslims, was estimated to be around 5.5 million as of July 2013, Muslims in the UAE account for approximately 5.3 million.
2 hours
Those who are new in the UAE will be surprised to find out that working during Ramadan is shorter than usual. Private sector employees in the UAE, either Muslim or not, are required to work two hours less or 36 hours a week instead of the normal 48 hours per week during the entire fasting month. Workers are encouraged to report employers who violate the work rule.
Dh1 million fine
To avoid unnecessary inflation during Ramadan, the Ministry of Economy in the UAE has fixed the prices of a number of day-to-day food items in all retail outlets across the country. Those who fail to follow the pricing will be made to pay a maximum fine of Dh1 million. In some cases, a fine could range anywhere between Dh100,000 and Dh200,000, depending on the gravity of the offense.
15 hours
Abstaining from food and water during the day is challenging for those who observe the holy month. And depending on where they are, Muslims can wait longer than others before they can break the fast. In places like the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, where Ramadan coincides with summer- which means longer daylight hours - Muslims fast for a little over 15 hours. It’s said to be one of the longest. In other areas like Chile, fasting lasts shorter, about ten hours.
1,418 mosques
Spiritual and enlightenment during Ramadan can be achieved not just through avoidance of food and/or drink. Muslims accompany abstinence with prayer, which is done several times in a day. And what better place to offer prayers during the blessed month than in the mosque? In Dubai, there are 1,418 mosques as of 2012. Abu Dhabi has more (2,289), while Sharjah has 600.
44 million date palm trees
The Iftar table is often not complete without a serving of dates. People break their fast by eating the nutritious and sweet palm fruit. Since the 1970s, the date production in the UAE is considered one of the “highest grossing” in the world. Estimates have it that there are more than 40 million date palm trees planted across the country.
