UAE mosques to take in more worshippers from tomorrow

The country will reopen tomorrow (August 3) after a four-day Eid AL Adha break. The health authority has granted permission for mosques in the UAE to operate at 50 percent capacity starting from tomorrow.

All precautionary measures announced previously by the authorities will remain in place when the country reopens after the Eid break.

Mosques have been operating at 30 percent since they were reopened on July 1.

Worshippers must maintain a distance of two meters from one another, as opposed to three meters as announced earlier. The gap between the call to prayer (azan) and the prayer (salah) will be increased to 10 minutes, except for Maghrib (sunset prayer), when the gap will be five minutes.

The new guidelines were announced during a virtual press briefing in July.

Who should not enter mosques?

• Those aged above 60 years and below 12 years.
• People with chronic and respiratory diseases
• Those living with Covid-19 patients.

Do’s and don’ts

• Download contact tracing app AlHosn.
• Wear face masks during the prayers.
• Maintain a 2-meter distance from other worshippers.
• Bring your own prayer mats.
• Copies of the Holy Quran won’t be available. Use your phone Quran if you must at mosques.
• Avoid crowding at mosque entrances.
• Don’t shake hands or hug one another.

Other already existing precautionary measures include:

• mandatory face masks at all times
• worshippers having to bring their own prayer mats to mosques
• performing ablutions at home
• using the mosque only for the main prayers
• the elderly, children, and those with chronic diseases having to continue praying at home for their own safety.

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