Eid: Free parking, Metro timings extended

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced the service timings for availing different RTA services during the forthcoming Eid Al Fitr holidays via customer service centers, paid parking zones, public buses, Dubai Metro, marine transit means, driving schools and vehicles' testing and registration centers.

(AP)

Ahmed Mahboob, Director of RTA Customer Service, announced that Customer Service Centers would be off during the Eid holidays starting from 29 Ramadan and would resume duty on 4 Shawwal (4th day of the Eid).

All paid parking zones in the emirate of Dubai would be free to use, except for the parking lots of the Fish Market and the multi-level parking as of 29 Ramadan and fees system would be reactivated on 4 Shawwal.

Mahboob continued: "The RTA will extend the working hours of the Dubai Metro during the Eid holiday and the service will start at 5:50am and continue up to 1:00am (past midnight).

Buses

“During the Eid holidays, the timing of public buses will be as follows: Main Stations (such as Gold Souq and Al Ghubaiba) will start at 06:00am and remain open up to 00:00 (midnight).

“Subsidiary stations (such as Satwa, Al Qusais, Al Qouz Industrial, and Jebel Ali) will also start at 06:00am and remain open up to 00:00 (midnight). Metro Feeder Bus Stations at Rashidiya, Mall of the Emirates, Ibn Battuta, Abu Hail ,Burj Khalifa  and Etisalat will offer service from 06:00am up to 01:00am.

"During the Eid holiday the timing of commercial buses and inter-city bus service during the Eid holiday will be as follows: Main Stations (like Ghubaiba) will remain operational 24 hours a day, while subsidiary stations (such as Sabkha, Union Square, Deira City Center and Karama) will be on duty from  06:00am up to 00:00 (midnight).

“External stations (such as Sharjah-Bur Dubai) will be on service round-the-clock during the Eid holidays, while Sharjah, Deira, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Ajman and Hatta services will start at 06:00am and continue up to 00:00 (midnight) during the holidays," stated Mahboob.

Marine transport

He also indicated that the working hours of marine transit systems during Eid Al-Fitr holidays would be as follows: Water Bus from 07:00am up to 10:00pm, Water Taxi from 10:00am up to 10:00pm, and Ferry Dubai from 09:00am up to 09:00pm.

Driving schools

As for driving schools and centers, Mahboob announced that Emirates Driving Institute, Belhasa Driving Center, Dubai Driving Center, Galadari Driving Center, Al Ahli Driving Center, and Dubai International Driving Center would be off during the first and second days of Eid Al Fitr and would resume duty on the third day of the Eid.

All vehicles testing & registration centers will be out of service during the three days of Eid Al-Fitr and will resume duty on the 4th of Shawwal, he added.
 

Dubai Customs

Dubai Customs has announced the working hours at its customs centers and posts to enable continuity of clearance of goods for both individuals and companies, offering convenient times for clients.

"Dubai Customs is keen on providing consistent services particularly those associated with clearance of goods during Eid holidays, in line with its strategic vision and objectives with respect to providing value-added customs services and consistently supporting the economy and trade for meeting the broad needs of clients," said Ahmed Mahboob Musabah, Executive Director of Client Management Division at Dubai Customs.

The Customs Centres at Dubai Cargo Village, Hatta Customs Centre, Customs Declaration Management at Port Rashid, Coastal Berth Customs Center and Creek Entry Customs Center shall operate on a 24/7 basis throughout the official holiday.

Customs Posts at Dubai International Airport (Terminal 1, 2 '&' 3) will be operating round the clock during Eid to facilitate smooth process for in-coming passengers. A large number of visitors who wish to spend Eid holidays in the UAE are expected to arrive atDubai Airports over the coming days.

The working hours at Dubai International Airport Free Zone Inspection Centre will be from 7.30 am to 10pm throughout the Eid holidays.

The Multi-Commodities Customs Center will be working from 9:00 am until 9pm during the whole Eid period. Creek Customs Centre will be operating on 2nd and 3rd days of Eid from 8am to 1pm.

Port Rashid Customs center will resume work on 3rd day of Eid from 8am to 1.30pm. The working hours at Postal Customs Centre will be from 9am to 1pm on 2nd and 3rd days of Eid. 

Hamriyah Port Customs center will be operating from 8am to 1pm.

Financial markets

The Eid Al Fitr holiday for the financial markets will start on Friday, August 17 (corresponding to 29 Ramadan) and will run until the third day of Shawwal (Hijri calendar), the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) has said.

SCA said that the transactions will be resumed on the fourth day of Shawwal.

Postal services

Only main post offices will be open from 9am to 1pm from August 17 to the third day of Eid on the occasion of Eid Al Fitr.

However, all post offices will remain closed on the first day of Eid.

The following post offices will be open from 9am to 1pm (except on the first day of Eid): Abu Dhabi Central Post Office and  Hamdan Post Office in Abu Dhabi; Al Ain Central Post Office; Dubai Central Post Office and Al Khor Post Office; Sharjah Central Post Office and Al Ghuwair Post Office; Ajman Central Post Office; Umm Al Quwain Industrial Post Office; Ras Al Khaimah Central Post Office, Al Uraibi Post Office; Fujairah Central Post Office, Dibba A Fujairah Post Office and Khorfakkan Post Office.

Dewa timings during Eid

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority has announced the official timings for its customer service centers during the holiday period of Eid Al Fitr.

Dewa’s customer service centers will remain open with the following timings to help its customers. All services will be delivered to customers at head office in Za’beel East, the Burj Nahar Center, Al Wasl Center, and Discovery Gardens on Saturday, 30th of Ramadan, from 9 am to 1.30 pm, and on 3rd of Shawal from 8.30 am to 3 pm.

In case Saturday is the first day of Eid Al Fitr, all Dewa’s customer service centres will be closed on that day.

Dewa provides regular payment channels through its offices from 7:30 am to 8pm except Fridays, and also through petrol stations such as Enoc and Eppco, Emirates Post Offices, Etisalat and banks’ payment machines, mpay through the website, and through Dewa’s electronic portal.

Dubai Health Authority Eid timings

All primary healthcare centres will remain closed during the first day of Eid. They will be open from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm during the second and third day of the festival, the Dubai Health Authority announced today.

All primary healthcare centres will remain open from 9 am to 2 pm during the 30th day of the Holy month of Ramadan. Al Safa and Al Mamzar, will be the two centres open during the evenings on the 29th and 30th day of the Holy month of Ramadan. They will be open from 8:30 pm to 12:00 pm.

The DHA has wished Eid greetings to all.

Municipal Health Authority Eid timings

The Municipality of Abu Dhabi City announced that Customer Service Centers would resume receiving the public at the Head Office as usual from 07:00 am up to 05:00 pm, and at External Centers from 07:00 am to 03:00 pm after the end of Eid Al-Fitre holidays.

The move is aimed to serve customer needs and sustain the rising tempo of transaction processing to meet the expectations and serve the interests of our valued customers.

The Customer Service Centers have processed 22 thousand transactions during the holy month of Ramadan. A report compiled by the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City states more than 22 thousand transactions were processed including more than 11 thousand transactions related to the issuance of consumption materials supplied through the two Foodstuffs Distribution Centers at Abu Dhabi and Musaffah, whereas about 2,000 transactions were related to the health inspection operations supplementing customers transactions, and licensing of activities. More than 10 thousand transactions related to lands have also been processed.

The report stated that Customer Service Centers have upgraded the service offering process as it managed over the past three months to process more than 123 thousand different transactions; with May witnessing the process of more than 21 thousand transactions through Foodstuffs Distribution Centers, and transaction processing clocked more than 22 thousand in June and 23 thousand in July. In the field of following up health inspection operations relating to licensing of activities, more than 1,600 transactions have been processed in May, 1,500 transactions in June and 1,700 transactions in July in addition to several transactions and services rendered to customers during the same period.

Eid Al Fitr 2012 concerts

There are plenty of concerts happening around town to celebrate Eid Al Fitr. Showbiz Arabia rounds up who’s performing where

Heading to Abu Dhabi on Monday is Lebanese songstress, fashion icon and Rotana superstar Najwa Karam - Image Credit: EPA

Abu Dhabi

Sunday, August 19

Mona Amarcha and Melhim Zein

At: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre

Who? Former contestant on MBC’s Noujoum El Arab competition and face of Mikyajy cosmetics, Moroccan Mona Amarcha has released three albums to date: Mojaba (2008), Sana Oula Hob (2009) and Yas Nas Daloni (2011).

The 24-year-old, who lives in Dubai, has a huge following in the GCC, so we predict that this concert will sell out pretty quickly. Expect to hear a selection of hit singles including Mojaba, Eshtaatelak, Wainak and Gawat Galb.

Sultan Al Muhairi from the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority told us: "Mona has become a hit with Gulf audiences because of her ability to perform the Gulf dialect even though she says she only discovered Khaleeji music during the MBC competition - she has performed sell-out concerts in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Dubai and Bahrain and is now coming to the UAE capital to make our Eid, her Eid."

Sharing the stage with Amarcha on the night is a singer who also found fame after appearing on TV. LBC’s Superstar finalist Melhim Zein is now a well-known Lebanese singer, who has enjoyed great success with his four albums so far: Enti Msheeti (2004), Baddi Hebbek (2006), Aallawa (2008) and Melhem Zein 2012.

Al Muhairi added: "Melhem will complement Mona superbly and fans will get first hearings of songs from his new album."

Time: From 9pm

Tickets: Dh450, Dh650 and Dh850, available from Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall and ADNEC’s Al Fanouse Ramadan Tent.
 

Monday, August 20

Karameesh Live!

At: Abu Dhabi National Theatre

Who? Live fun for the youngsters with a live showing of hit Jordanian TV children’s music show Karameesh.

Time: From 7pm

Tickets: Dh125, Dh225 and Dh325, from Marina Mall, as well as the National Theatre on the day of the show.
 

Najwa Karam and Mansour Zayed

At: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre

Who? Heading to Abu Dhabi on Monday is Lebanese songstress, fashion icon and Rotana superstar Najwa Karam.

"Najwa’s appeal is huge, having sold over 50 million records worldwide, becoming the best-selling Middle Eastern artist for five years since 1999, plus having served as a judge on the hit TV show Arabs Got Talent, as well as having produced the Middle East’s first 3D music video," said Al Muhairi.

Supporting Karam is up-and-coming Emirati singer Mansour Zayed, whose first single, Ya Damei Aini, soared to success via YouTube. The 30-year-old is now signed to major record company Rotana.

Time: From 9pm

Tickets: Dh450, Dh650 and Dh850, from Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall and ADNEC’s Al Fanouse Ramadan Tent.

Dubai

Second day of Eid (scheduled to fall on August 20)

Hussain Al Jasmi and Myriam Fares

At: Shaikh Rashid Hall, Dubai World Trade Centre

Who? This duo really needs no introduction. But in case you have been living on a desert island for the past decade, one is arguably the biggest singer to come out of the UAE, and the other is a Lebanese performer and businesswoman with a plethora of hit singles to her name.

Hussain Al Jasmi rose to prominence following the release of his first single Bawada’ak in 2002. Since then, the 33-year-old Emirati has gone on to sell thousands of singles and albums, and his song Bassbour Al Fourgakom has even become one of the tunes that play during the musical shows at The Dubai Fountain.

As for Myriam Fares, the 29-year-old has enjoyed huge success with her music. Some of her biggest hits to date include La Tes’alni, Nadini, Haklik Rahtak, and Eh Elli Behsal.

Time: From 9pm

Tickets: Dh150, Dh250 and Dh350, from ticketingco.com.

Third day of Eid (scheduled to fall on August 21)

Ahlam and Khalid Abdul Rahman

At: Shaikh Rashid Hall, Dubai World Trade Centre

Who? Emirati singer Ahlam is enjoying a resurgence in her career thanks to her appearance as a judge on MBC’s Arab Idol alongside Lebanese singer Ragheb Alama and Egyptian composer Hassan Al Shafei. The 42-year-old has ten albums to her name, including the Rotana-produced Al Thokol Sana’a (2006) and Hatha Ana (2009).

Khalid Abdul Rahman, meanwhile, has been in the business since the 1980s, so it is no surprise he has been compared to fellow Saudi Arabian legends Mohammad Abdou, Abdul Majid Abdullah and Rashed Al Majid. His hit songs include Ahat, Sarihini, Khuberooh and Tedhkar.

Time: From 9pm

Tickets: Dh150, Dh250 and Dh350, from ticketingco.com.

 

Wednesday, August 22

Rabeh Sakr

At: Al Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai

Who? Saudi Arabian star Rabeh Sakr has appeared on a grand total of 29 albums -- and that’s despite the fact he had retired from music for five years, before returning to the scene in the early 2000s. Understandably, the singer has a huge following in the Gulf, so despite the crazy ticket prices, you can expect the ballroom to be a full house.

Time: From 10pm

Tickets: From Dh1,000 per person, which includes dinner. Call 04-2828111.

Fourth day of Eid (scheduled to fall on August 22)

Kathem Al Saher and Diana Haddad

At: Shaikh Rashid Hall, Dubai World Trade Centre

Who? Another duo that really needs no introduction. Diana Haddad is one of the Middle East’s most influential female singers. The Lebanese star, who resides in Dubai and has Emirati citizenship, rose to fame in 1996 following the release of one of the top-selling Arabic singles of all time, Saken. Haddad is known for not limiting herself to a single style of music, and has released songs in many genres and dialects.

Meanwhile, confirmed as one of the judges set to appear on The Voice Middle East this fall, Iraqi superstar Kathem Al Saher has released a total of 22 albums, including Fi Medreset Al Hob, Ana Wa Laila, and La Tazeedeeh Lowa’a.

Time: From 9pm

Tickets: Dh150, Dh250 and Dh350, from ticketingco.com.

It's official: Eid in UAE, Saudi Arabia on Sunday

It's official now. Muslims in the UAE and Saudi Arabia will celebrate Eid Al Fitr on Sunday as Shawal moon was not sighted on Friday evening, the moon sighting committees said.

A noted UAE astronomer had predicted last week that Eid Al Fitr will fall on Sunday 19th August.

Astronomy researcher and General Superviser of the Sharjah Planetarium Ibrahim Jarwan insisted that calculations showed that the crescent moon marking the beginning of the month of Shawwal will rise on Friday 17th August at 7.54pm. As the moonrise takes place 65 minutes after the sunset on that day, it will be impossible to see it because it will not be there on the horizon.

The ideal time to watch the crescent moon ranges between 10 to 30 minutes after the sunset on a day, explained Al Jarwan.

Thus Saturday will be the 30th day that completes the month of Ramadan, and the crescent will be visible on the horizon 17 minutes after the sunset, he added.

If Eid Al Fitr falls on Sunday, people in the UAE will enjoy a 5-day Eid holiday starting from Friday and ending on Tuesday. Work will, then, resume on Wednesday.

Authorities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman have already declared 10-day Eid holidays.

Muslims in other Gulf Arab countries are still waiting for announcement from their respective moon sighting committees. Most of Arab countries celebrate Eid on the same day.

Eid in Pakistan

But Pakistani media reports said that Shawal moon has been sighted in Pakistani cities bordering Afghanistan and the Muslims there will celebrate Eid tomorrow.

Reports said that Muslims in Miran Shah and North Waziristan will celebrate Eid tomorrow after authorities declared Eid tomorrow in those areas.

Friday night moon sighting to decide Eid holiday

Dubai: UAE residents will be on edge Friday night to find out if the Eid holidays start on Saturday.

If the crescent moon is sighted anytime after sunset, Eid will start Saturday in line with the Islamic lunar calendar.

So, what’s different about the Islamic months and why does the moon play such a shining role in the lives of countless Muslims around the world?

The tradition of moon sighting has stood for 14 centuries since the birth of Islam.

In fact, the waxing and waning of the moon — the visible part of the moon made so by sunlight spreading across its surface — has been used since ancient times to keep track of time.

“This moon or lunar calendar’s been there forever, it predates Islam. Anyone can use it. You just look at the moon and know what day of the month it is,” said Hasan Al Hariri from the Dubai Astronomy Club.

“The moon has clear fixed phases — from the crescent moon, to half moon, to full moon and back to crescent — that makes it easy to follow. So, you know what day and month it is, but what about the year?

“[In the corresponding year 622 AD] it was fixed as ‘Year One’ of the Islamic calendar, also called Hijri to mark the emigration of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, from Makkah to Madinah.”

We are now in year 1433 in the Hijri or Islamic calendar, and today (Friday) could be the last day of Ramadan.

Each of the 12 lunar Muslim months is either 29 or 30 days, as the moon’s orbit around the earth is about 28.5 days, he explained. It takes about another 24 hours to be able to see with the naked eye — the faint crescent of the new moon traditionally marking the new month.

Since the month is at least 29 days then, people look for the crescent on the night of the 30th.

If it is seen — usually in the fading twilight after sunset — the current month ends with 29 days ‘hollow’ and the next month starts.

If it is not seen — or if it is too cloudy — the current month is regarded as ‘full’, that is 30 days. This framework means the Islamic year ends up being 354 or 355 days long, compared to the regular 365-day solar year.

This made moon sighting essential for religious ceremonies — and for legal reasons like quantifying the duration of contracts and loans — and so it was done for every month. However, these days — apart from Ramadan and the Eid following it immediately — the start and end of the months are mostly based on calendar dates set in advance in scientific timetables.

“You can know to the minute when the moon will rise or set on a particular day five years down the line, for example. The moon has a fixed predictable orbit and cycle, you just work out those times in advance based on current stations,” said Noor Al Haq from Dubai’s Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities.

“Traditionally, moon sighting has been done with the naked eye, without the use of special equipment. There‘s no dispute among the religious scholars and astronomers about it, they both are specialists in their own field. It’s only the common people who don’t fully understand the logic behind these two specialities that argue over moon sighting or calculations.”

Al Haq pointed out moon sighting has its own talent, depending on the observers’ location relative to the moon, their eyesight, the weather, the height of the observation point, knowledge of where and when to look for it in the sky, among other technicalities.

“People used to take to higher ground to get a clear view of the horizon, from places like hilltops in Ras Al Khaimah. Today, some people do this from Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, in Dubai,” Al Haq said.

Prices of food items increase

According to Khaleej times; Food prices are increasing during Ramadan, according to figures from the Statistics Centre-Abu Dhabi (SCAD).

The SCAD recorded a 0.3 per cent increase in the prices of food commodities during the third week of Ramadan compared with the second week due to rise in prices of some food groups including fruits (3.9 per cent), fish and seafood (2.7 per cent) and vegetables (0.9 per cent).

Meanwhile, some key groups showed a decrease in prices over the same period. Sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery fell by 1.3 per cent, followed by coffee, tea and cocoa by 1.1 per cent.  Meat was also down by 0.9 per cent.

Comparing with food prices in the first week of the holy month, SCAD noted an overall increase of 0.8 per cent during the third week.  Meat increased 4.3 per cent followed by sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery by 0.9 per cent. Oils and fats were also up by 0.7 per cent while mineral water, soft drinks, and fruit and vegetable juices were up by 0.5 per cent. The centre also reported a rise of 3.5 per cent in food prices during the third week compared with the week preceding Ramadan, reflecting an increase in the prices fish and seafood (8.2 per cent), meat (7 per cent), vegetables (6.3 per cent) and coffee, tea and cocoa (6 per cent).

According to the centre, the data was based on the studies of 308 food items that make up the ‘food and non-alcoholic beverages’ expenditure sub-group.

Price data are collected from sources selected through field visits by the inspection team. Sources were selected to ensure that they are representative of a broad segment of consumers in the city of Abu Dhabi during the month of Ramadan.