UAE: Ramadan COVID-19 Guidelines Announced

Dr. Seif Al Dhaheri, spokesperson for the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), announced the COVID-19 guidelines for Ramadan in the UAE.

Officials also announced nationwide restrictions for Ramadan, which begins on April 13 or 14.

تصريحات معالي عبدالرحمن العويس، وزير الصحة ووقاية المجتمع اليوم في الإحاطة الإعلامية لحكومة #الإمارات.#يدا_بيد_نتعافى

H.E Abdulrahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention statements in today’s #UAE government media briefing.#TogetherWeRecover pic.twitter.com/utGJEx5QoJ

— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) March 16, 2021

Here is a list of the guidelines:

• Avoid all majlis and public gatherings;

• Family gatherings should not be held;

• Iftar and suhoor can be shared only by relatives living in the same house;

#NCEMA: It is not allowed to create family or institutional iftar tents, share meals in public places or provide & distribute iftar meals in front of homes & mosques. Those interested in doing so, must coordinate with charities. With donations & zakat done electronically.

— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) March 16, 2021

• Avoid exchanging food with other families;

• Refrain from any big gatherings related to Ramadan activities;

• No collective iftar tents; no meals in front of mosque or anywhere else;

• Restaurants cannot distribute meals inside or outside their premises;

• Meals can be distributed in labour accommodation, only. Those who are interested in giving iftar meals to workers should contact the manager of the accommodation and a restaurant to arrange the distribution of meal packets;

• Tarawih prayers will be conducted under the precautionary measures already announced;

• Mosques should be sanitised before and after prayers;

• Do not distribute physical copies of the holy Quran; people should read the Quran digitally;

• In the last 10 days of Ramadan, the situation will be reassessed and restrictions may be eased;

• Intensive inspection campaigns will be conducted during Ramadan and action will be taken against offenders;

• Elderly people and those with chronic diseases that place them at greater risk should continue to avoid public places;

• Masks must be worn all times outside the home.

The UAE has achieved its target of vaccinating half the country’s population two weeks before its target.