Preparations have begun at Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque for the final 10 days of Ramadan, considered the most important phase of the holy month.
Mosque authorities say mobile information stations have been set up to accommodate a surge in devotees, while the centre's switchboard services has doubled its number of staff to efficiently handle increased volume of calls and inquiries during this period.
The mosque scheduled the late night Tahajjud prayer at midnight. Visiting hours will conclude at 11.30pm throughout the week for the duration of this period. The centre is otherwise open round the clock with night tours for visitors.
The mosque’s courtyard has also been outfitted with more than 1,500 carpets. More than 70 electric vehicles have been added to facilitate the movement of devotees from parking areas to the prayer halls, with priority given to the elderly and those with special needs.
This year, the centre has added 1,800 parking spaces on Grand Mosque Street opposite Gate of Coexistence - Number 7, as well as at other locations, including Zayed Sports City, Erth Hotel and near the Oasis of Dignity.
A shuttle bus service to the mosque is also available from these locations.
Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority's ambulances and civil defence teams will be on standby at the mosque.
The mosque has also enlisted 580 volunteers to work alongside the centre's employees, the Emirates Red Crescent, police officers, paramedics and the civil defence.
More than 570,113 people have visited the mosque since Ramadan began, authorities said. Of this, 164,704 attended prayers, 194,978 were guests and 210,431 attended the daily iftar gathering.
Last year, more than 850,000 people visited the site during Ramadan with more than 1.5 million free iftar meals served at the mosque.
One of the UAE's most popular sites, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the largest of its kind in the country, spreading across 22,000 square metres. It can host more than 40,000 worshippers at once. Besides its religious significance, it highlights the legacy of the UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and commemorates his values, memory, qualities and contributions to humanity.
The five pillars of Islam
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Read more about the coronavirus
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
More on Quran memorisation:
Zayed Sustainability Prize
More on animal trafficking
The biog
Name: Maitha Qambar
Age: 24
Emirate: Abu Dhabi
Education: Master’s Degree
Favourite hobby: Reading
She says: “Everyone has a purpose in life and everyone learns from their experiences”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
TICKETS
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
