A number of new mosques have been opened in Sharjah as part of the emirate’s preparations for Ramadan. The Sharjah Department of Islamic Affairs said the newly opened mosques are spread across different areas of the emirate and can collectively accommodate more than 2,000 worshippers.
“This is part of a broader plan by the department to open 20 new mosques across various districts in Sharjah in time for Ramadan,” said Abdullah Al Sabousi, chairman of the Sharjah Department of Islamic Affairs. “These projects are part of a long-term plan to expand the emirate’s network of mosques, ensuring all areas are well-served.”
He said the initiative aims to provide residents and visitors with accessible places of worship while fostering a peaceful and spiritual atmosphere during the holy month.
Where are the mosques?
Among the newly opened mosques is Hosn Al Khatimah mosque in Al Barashi. Built in a modern Islamic architectural style, it was funded by a philanthropist, spans 4,072 square metres and includes a main prayer hall and supporting facilities. The new mosque accommodates 400 worshippers, including 80 spaces for women.
In Kalba, two new mosques have been opened to serve the growing number of worshippers. The first, called Al Baraa Bin Aws mosque, is located in Al Saf and was built in traditional Islamic architectural style on a 2,601 square metre plot. It can accommodate 850 worshippers, including 100 spaces for women.
Nearby, Dhat Al Nitaqain mosque in Al Ghail features a blend of Islamic and Fatimid architectural influences. It was built on a 1,747-square-metre site and has space for 350 worshippers, including 50 spaces for women.
Other recently opened mosques include Al Sahabi Al Tufail bin Malik mosque in Al Dhaid and Umm Habib bint Al Awwam mosque in Khor Fakkan. The first, located in Suhaila Three, spans 2,163 square metres and accommodates 600 worshippers, including 50 spaces for women. The second, situated in Al Haray, was built on a 1,930 square metre plot and offers prayer spaces for 400 worshippers, with 50 spaces for women.
In Al Hamriyah, the Al Sahabi Salim bin Amr mosque was constructed within the Ajmal Makan residential complex and can accommodate 250 worshippers. Last year the department opened 40 mosques including 30 before the end of Ramadan and 10 in the final third of the year.
What is Ramadan and when is it?
Ramadan is this year expected to begin on Saturday, March 1, however the start date will be confirmed by the UAE's moon-sighting committee. Each month in the Islamic calendar lasts 29 or 30 days, with its start heralded by the sighting of the new crescent moon. This means that the start date of Ramadan, and Eid Al Fitr, are not known long in advance.
If Ramadan does begin on March 1 as projected, the final day of the holy month will either be on March 29 or March 30. Ramadan will begin about three weeks before the end of Spring term for many schools.
Ramadan is the ninth and most holy month of the Islamic calendar. It is said to be the month that the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed. During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink from dawn until sunset, between the fajr and maghrib prayers.
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Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
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Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
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2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
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Star rating: 2/5
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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday
Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm kick-off UAE)
Bayer Leverkusen v Schalke (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Cologne (5.30pm)
Mainz v Arminia Bielefeld (5.30pm)
Augsburg v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Bayern Munich (8.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Freiburg (10.30pm)
Sunday
VfB Stuttgart v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Union Berlin v Hertha Berlin (8pm)
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Series info
Test series schedule 1st Test, Abu Dhabi: Sri Lanka won by 21 runs; 2nd Test, Dubai: Play starts at 2pm, Friday-Tuesday
ODI series schedule 1st ODI, Dubai: October 13; 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 16; 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 18; 4th ODI, Sharjah: October 20; 5th ODI, Sharjah: October 23
T20 series schedule 1st T20, Abu Dhabi: October 26; 2nd T20, Abu Dhabi: October 27; 3rd T20, Lahore: October 29
Tickets Available at www.q-tickets.com
Stat Fourteen Fourteen of the past 15 Test matches in the UAE have been decided on the final day. Both of the previous two Tests at Dubai International Stadium have been settled in the last session. Pakistan won with less than an hour to go against West Indies last year. Against England in 2015, there were just three balls left.
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Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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