ABU DHABI // Muslims across the UAE have prepared in different ways to celebrate the Holy Month, which begins Friday.
Abdullah bin Touq, 27, an Emirati living in Dubai, will include a lot of sports with fasting and prayer.
"My friends, family and I set up a volleyball court in front of the majlis we go to for iftar," Mr bin Touq said. "We usually play volleyball from 11pm to 2am on and off."
His family used to set up a tent in front of their house but stopped because of regulations.
"You need to have a fire extinguisher now, two exits in the tent and in summer you need air conditioning," said Mr bin Touq.
In the first five days of Ramadan he visits family members to congratulate them on the Holy Month.
"This is in our tradition," he said. "This is very important in Ramadan and then we visit them again for Eid and celebrate with them."
For Ahlam Bolooki, 23, another Emirati in Dubai, Ramadan is a family affair.
"Two or three of my aunts have been helping my mum cook for the past week," Ms Bolooki said.
"We divide food into little bags and freeze them because it makes cooking easier on the day.
"We've also got palm trees at home so we distribute our dates to [their families] too."
Ayman Al Awadhi, also Emirati, said Muslims and foreigners were getting into the spirit of Ramadan.
"Mothers, sisters and wives cook and then we start exchanging food with our neighbours," he said. "It's not just locals, but foreigners tend to do that too."
The Al Awadhis set up a tent in front of their house for their friends to gather in.
"We all gather there to break our fast," Mr Al Awadhi said. "This is the typical Ramadan spirit."
cmalek@thenational.ae
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
RESULT
Aston Villa 1
Samatta (41')
Manchester City 2
Aguero (20')
Rodri (30')
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
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Kanguva
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