When the moon was sighted on Thursday evening, indicating the start of the month of Shawwal, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will celebrate the first day of Eid Al-Fitr on Friday 21 April.
Residents in the UAE can now look forward to a well-deserved respite as the country prepares for Eid Al-Fitr. The holidays began today (Thursday) and will finish on Sunday, the third day of Shawwal, providing residents with a four-day break.
Muslims mark the day by gathering in mosques and open spaces for congregational Eid prayers, which are conducted after sunrise.
According to the Khaleej Times, the Eid prayer times for various places in the UAE are as follows:
| Emirate | Prayer Timing |
| Abu Dhabi | 6.12 AM |
| Dubai | 6.10 AM |
| Sharjah city | 6.07 AM |
| Ajman | 6.07 AM |
| Umm Al Quwain | 6.07 AM |
| Ras Al Khaimah | 6.05 AM |
| Fujairah | 6.05 AM |
Friday and Eid Sermons
A sermon will be offered at prayer sites following the Eid prayer. When Eid comes on Friday, two sermons will be delivered: one for Eid and one for normal Friday services. The UAE Fatwa Council has decided that prayers and sermons shall be held separately.
Despite debate among Muslim scholars on whether Friday prayer should be performed if Eid Al-Fitr occurs on a Friday, the council has ruled that each sermon must be held individually at its appointed time in accordance with the Sunnah.
A majority of Muslim experts and leading Islamic schools have supported this decision.
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