2+ day, 4+ hour ago (640+ words) Fri, Nov 28, 2025 | Jumada al-Thani 7, 1447 | Fajr 05:23 | DXB 27.3C The surge in demand was also driven by cooler temperatures, making the pilgrimage more comfortable Dubai resident Salman Ubaid is among many Muslims who will be travelling for Umrah during this National Day break. After waiting for more than 3 years, the 29-year-old sales executive is finally preparing for his spiritual journey. "I am going with three of my closest friends," he said. "We have all been planning this for a long time, but work schedules never matched. When the four-day holiday was announced, we realised this was our chance. I have been waiting to go " it feels like the right time." Salman said the short but meaningful trip is something he has been longing for. "I wanted to go when my parents visited earlier, but I couldn't get leave. Now, when I saw the…...

2+ week, 3+ day ago (350+ words) Thu, Nov 13, 2025 | Jumada al-Awwal 22, 1447 | Fajr 05:14 | DXB 30.4C The selection process was carried out according to the automated sorting programme and specified criteria and conditions, from among 72,000 applicants The UAE's Islamic Affairs authority has approved names of 6,228 Emirati citizens to perform the Hajj pilgrimage for 2026 (1447 AH). According to the General Authority for Islamic Affairs (Awqaf), Endowments and Zakat all approved applicants have been contacted and notified via text messages and other communication channels to begin completing the required procedures. This step comes as part of the Authority's early preparations for the upcoming Hajj season, aimed at ensuring smooth coordination, efficient organisation, and comprehensive services for UAE pilgrims traveling to the holy sites. The Authority confirmed that the selection process was conducted through an automated sorting system based on specific criteria and eligibility conditions. It added that more than 72,000 citizens had submitted applications…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago (579+ words) Tue, Nov 11, 2025 | Jumada al-Awwal 20, 1447 | Fajr 05:13 | DXB 24.8C The countdown to one of the most spiritual times of the year has begun. In just 100 days, the UAE will welcome the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is marked by fasting from dawn to dusk, spiritual reflection and acts of charity. Like every Hijri month, its start is confirmed only after the crescent moon is sighted. This year, astronomical calculations suggest Thursday, February 19, 2026, as the likely first day of Ramadan." The end of the holy month will also bring the UAE's first long weekend of the year, as residents mark Eid Al Fitr " the Islamic festival that celebrates the completion of fasting. The country designates three public holidays to mark the occasion. The official announcement is made on the eve of the month by the UAE Moon-Sighting…...

3+ week, 1+ hour ago (466+ words) Sun, Nov 09, 2025 | Jumada al-Awwal 18, 1447 | Fajr 05:12 | DXB 31.2C His simple and relatable videos help bridge the gap between Muslims who don't speak Arabic and Islamic scholars When Emirati educator Faris Al Hammadi'began attending mosque lectures nearly two decades ago, he wasn't planning to become a content creator. What started as a personal curiosity about his faith gradually turned into a mission to make Islamic teachings accessible to those who struggle to understand them in Arabic. Today, his simple and relatable videos have made him one of the most recognisable Islamic voices online. Often filming from his car, Al Hammadi'answers followers' questions with calm honesty and humor, earning the trust of people who once hesitated to ask religious questions openly " 'even the ones that begin with, "Is it haram to sell feet pics?" Khaleej Times spotted Al Hamadi recording one of his videos…...

3+ week, 1+ day ago (421+ words) Sat, Nov 08, 2025 | Jumada al-Awwal 17, 1447 | Fajr 05:11 | DXB 24C Visitors at the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) are getting a rare chance to see a piece of Islamic art history " a facsimile edition of a Quran manuscript written more than a thousand years ago by the legendary calligrapher Abu al-Hasan Ali Ibn Hilal, widely known as Ibn al-Bawwab. The beautifully reproduced manuscript is on display at the Safir Ardehal kiosk from Tehran, where visitors can witness the precision and beauty of early Arabic calligraphy. Deshdashti explained that the Quran is written in naskh script, a style Ibn al-Bawwab refined and perfected. Each page has 16 lines of neatly balanced text, with smooth letters, even spacing, and steady strokes. "In this Quran, you can see how every letter breathes within its own space," he said. "Ibn al-Bawwab believed beauty lies in balance " every curve, every…...

3+ week, 1+ day ago (544+ words) Fri, Nov 07, 2025 | Jumada al-Awwal 16, 1447 | Fajr 05:11 | DXB 31.3C At the Sharjah International Book Fair, the live restoration booth offers visitors a unique look at how the Emirates preserves Islamic written heritage Have you ever seen a centuries-old book " eaten by insects, torn, full of holes, and with brittle pages " brought back to life? Now, visitors to the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) have the chance to witness this rare process live. Experts from the UAE National Archives are carefully restoring ancient manuscripts, including a centuries-old copy of the Holy Quran. Gently lifting a page that seems on the verge of crumbling, the restorer shared, "This Quran was written hundreds of years ago. Some pages are missing, others have holes, and the ink has faded (over time). We use natural glues and very fine Japanese tissue to support the paper from beneath. It's…...

3+ week, 1+ day ago (541+ words) Sat, Nov 08, 2025 | Jumada al-Awwal 17, 1447 | Fajr 05:11 | DXB 24C They work with gloves and magnifying lenses under bright lamps, using brushes, tweezers, and delicate Japanese paper with careful precision Have you ever seen a centuries-old book " eaten by insects, torn, full of holes, and with brittle pages " brought back to life? Now, visitors to the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) have the chance to witness this rare process live. Experts from the UAE National Archives are carefully restoring ancient manuscripts, including a centuries-old copy of the Holy Quran. Gently lifting a page that seems on the verge of crumbling, the restorer shared, "This Quran was written hundreds of years ago. Some pages are missing, others have holes, and the ink has faded (over time). We use natural glues and very fine Japanese tissue to support the paper from beneath. It's almost invisible, but…...

3+ week, 3+ day ago (403+ words) Thu, Nov 06, 2025 | Jumada al-Awwal 15, 1447 | Fajr 05:10 | DXB 26C The experience at the Sharjah International Book Fair has received emotional response from visitors as they journeyed through the early days of Islam Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk inside the Holy Kaaba, or see how Makkah and Madina looked more than 1,400 years ago? A new virtual reality (VR) experience at the Sharjah International Book Fair allows visitors to do just that, offering an immersive journey through time that brings the early days of Islam to life. Developed by Ana Al Madina, the project uses advanced VR technology to recreate the streets, homes, and spiritual landmarks of the two holiest cities in Islam. As soon as visitors put on the headset, they find themselves drifting through space, descending slowly toward Earth before landing in ancient Makkah. Soon, the viewer…...

3+ week, 4+ day ago (203+ words) Wed, Nov 05, 2025 | Jumada al-Awwal 14, 1447 | Fajr 05:10 | DXB 27C President of the Religious Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques says it is the responsibility and religious duty of every visitor to follow the rules A video of a man raising his voice at a security official at the Makkah Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia has gone viral. In the video, the man appeared to be shouting at the officer, who pushed him away from the crowds. Despite repeated censures from the officer, the man continued to fight back. After the video did rounds on social media, The Special Forces for Hajj and Umrah Security issued a statement saying that the man in the video has been arrested for "violating the regulations and procedures followed in the Grand Mosque." The statement added that necessary legal procedures were being completed against the individual. Following the…...

3+ week, 4+ day ago (389+ words) Tue, Nov 04, 2025 | Jumada al-Awwal 13, 1447 | Fajr 05:09 | DXB 30C Here's how pilgrims and guides can register on the official Nusuk Hajj platform The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced that pilgrims from Muslim-minority countries included in the Direct Hajj Program can register directly through the official Nusuk Hajj Platform, without the need to deal with any external intermediaries. The Ministry emphasised that the Nusuk Hajj is the official and authorized platform for registration under the Direct Hajj Program, dedicated to enabling Muslims from the Muslim-minority countries included in the program to register directly through the platform. Registrations began on October 7, 2025. Through Ministry-supervised integrated digital system, the platform aims to facilitate a safe and seamless experience for the pilgrim, from the registration to the selection and payment for Hajj packages. The Ministry has clarified that the current phase is for account registration only,…...