Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has completed its preparations to welcome thousands of worshippers and visitors during Ramadan.
The first day of Ramadan is expected to fall on March 11 this year, after the UAE's International Astronomy Centre announced the sighting of the Sheban crescent moon on February 10.
This marked the countdown to the month-long fast.
The internationally renowned place of worship last year welcomed 684,945 guests from around the world, state news agency Wam reported.
A record of more than 60,000 worshippers also visited the mosque on the 27th night of Ramadan to observe Laylat Al Qadr.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre said it has formed committees and teams to ensure that it meets the needs of worshippers and visitors throughout the holy month.
It has also enlisted 580 volunteers to work alongside the centre's employees, the Emirates Red Crescent, police officers, paramedics and the civil defence.
The centre has also provided more than 70 electric cars to transport worshippers from car parks to prayer halls, with priority going to the elderly and the disabled, as well as about 50,000 breakfast meals for workers.
There will also be 8,379 available parking spaces, including 1,500 for women and more than 60 for those with disabilities. There are over 3,515 chairs and 50 wheelchairs for worshippers.
Additional parking will be provided at Erth Hotel, Zayed Sports City and adjacent to Wahat Al Karama.
The centre has also provided more than 1,480 carpets for worshippers and cleaned and sterilised carpets in the mosque's halls and courtyard to ensure the safety of worshippers.
The SZGMC has collaborated with the Ministry of Defence to fire the canon announcing the beginning of Ramadan in co-ordination with the Ramadan Moon Sighting Committee.
They will fire the cannon daily at the mosque throughout the holy month to mark Iftar and to announce the start of Eid Al Fitr.
Ramadan is observed by more than 1.8 billion Muslims and is believed to be the month when the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed.
Fasting during the holy month is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is mandatory for all Muslims who are in good health.
Watch: UAE Ramadan 2024 working hours announced
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The biog
Favourite film: Motorcycle Dairies, Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday, Kagemusha
Favourite book: One Hundred Years of Solitude
Holiday destination: Sri Lanka
First car: VW Golf
Proudest achievement: Building Robotics Labs at Khalifa University and King’s College London, Daughters
Driverless cars or drones: Driverless Cars
Selected fixtures
All times UAE
Wednesday
Poland v Portugal 10.45pm
Russia v Sweden 10.45pm
Friday
Belgium v Switzerland 10.45pm
Croatia v England 10.45pm
Saturday
Netherlands v Germany 10.45pm
Rep of Ireland v Denmark 10.45pm
Sunday
Poland v Italy 10.45pm
Monday
Spain v England 10.45pm
Tuesday
France v Germany 10.45pm
Rep of Ireland v Wales 10.45pm
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
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MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)
Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports
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South Pole stats
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Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
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Liverpool's all-time goalscorers
Ian Rush 346
Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
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Billy Liddell 228
Tour de France
When: July 7-29
UAE Team Emirates:
Dan Martin, Alexander Kristoff, Darwin Atapuma, Marco Marcato, Kristijan Durasek, Oliviero Troia, Roberto Ferrari and Rory Sutherland
Scoreline:
Barcelona 2
Suarez 85', Messi 86'
Atletico Madrid 0
Red card: Diego Costa 28' (Atletico)
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Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
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- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
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The jiu-jitsu men’s team: Faisal Al Ketbi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Yahia Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Obaid Al Nuaimi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Mansoori, Saeed Al Mazroui, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Mohammed Al Qubaisi, Salem Al Suwaidi, Khalfan Belhol, Saood Al Hammadi.
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Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
