Dubai Police have announced the locations of this year’s Ramadan cannons, with seven stationed at fixed locations across the emirate and a roaming cannon that will visit 17 different residential areas throughout the holy month.
The stationary cannons will be fired at sunset each evening to signal the start of iftar, while the roaming cannon will move to a new location every two days, allowing residents in various communities to experience the tradition.
“The increase in the number of locations this year is a direct response to public feedback, ensuring that this beloved Ramadan tradition reaches a wider segment of the community who look forward to and enjoy it,” said Maj Gen Abdullah Al Ghaithi, assistant commandant for Operations Affairs at Dubai Police.
Stationary cannon locations
- Expo City Dubai (Main location)
- Damac Hills
- Mirdif
- Burj Khalifa
- Wasl (Dubai Real Estate Corporation)
- Hatta Fort Hotel
- Salt Camp at Kite Beach
- Festival City
The roaming cannon will begin its journey at Flaq Al Meydan before moving across various neighbourhoods including Al Satwa Grand Mosque, Al Marmoom, Zabeel Park, Al Khawaneej Majlis, Festival City, Wasl 1 Community, Madinat Jumeirah, Al Barsha Park, Al Habab, Nad Al Sheba 1 – Al Ghaf Walk, Ayton Mirdif, Margham, Luluwi, Nad Al Sheba Park, Burj Khalifa, and Jumeirah Kite Beach, ensuring a wider reach for this cherished tradition.
Two old French cannons, dating back to the 1960s, will be used. The 25-pound cannons produce a sound of 170 decibels, reaching a distance of 10 kilometres.
In addition to the Ramadan cannons, Expo City Dubai’s “Ramadan District” will feature various activities including workshops and live performances. The events will run daily from 5pm to 1am and offer families and visitors a chance to enjoy the Ramadan spirit in a festive atmosphere.
What is Ramadan?
The month of Ramadan is when able Muslims abstain from food, drink and oral medicine from sunrise (fajr) to sunset (maghrib). When the sun sets, Muslims break their fast with a meal called iftar.
Considered the holiest month in the Islamic – or Hijri – calendar, Ramadan is believed to be when the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed. It is a time when Muslims strengthen their faith through prayer, recitation of the holy book and charitable acts.
How long does fasting last each day?
With the month falling earlier this year, Muslims can expect to fast for a slightly shorter time than they did last year, though the days lengthen towards the end of the month.
This year, Muslims in the UAE will begin the month by fasting for about 14 hours and 13 minutes. The fasting time will steadily increase as the holy month progresses. By the end of Ramadan, the fast will last for 14 hours and 55 minutes.
What time do Muslims pray during Ramadan?
Prayer is one of the five pillars of Islam and Muslims are obliged to pray five times a day: fajr, dhuhr, asr, maghrib and isha. Throughout the holy month, an additional extended evening prayer called taraweeh is performed after isha.
During the final 10 nights of Ramadan, when Muslims increase their piety, some may choose to perform tahajjud prayers – also known as qiyam al layl – which are carried out after taraweeh throughout the night.
Muslims typically try to pray at mosques as it is thought there is a greater reward in communal prayer.
The best photos from Ramadan 2024 – in pictures
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It's Monty Python's Crashing Rocket Circus
To the theme tune of the famous zany British comedy TV show, SpaceX has shown exactly what can go wrong when you try to land a rocket.
The two minute video posted on YouTube is a compilation of crashes and explosion as the company, created by billionaire Elon Musk, refined the technique of reusable space flight.
SpaceX is able to land its rockets on land once they have completed the first stage of their mission, and is able to resuse them multiple times - a first for space flight.
But as the video, How Not to Land an Orbital Rocket Booster, demonstrates, it was a case if you fail, try and try again.
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
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5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
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NO OTHER LAND
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House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
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Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Last-16
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Argentina 3
Di Maria (41'), Mercado (48'), Aguero (90 3')
Ticket prices
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Dir: The Russo Brothers
Starring: Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Junior, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen
Four stars
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Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
How it works
1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground
2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water
3) One application is said to last five years
4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare
