In seven years' time, Muslims around the world will observe Ramadan twice in one year – a phenomenon that last occurred in 1997.
Dr Hasan Al Hariri, chief executive of the Dubai Astronomy Group, said those observing the holy month in 2030 will commence their fast twice, first in January and then again in late December.
This is because the Islamic Hijri calendar is based on lunar cycles and it takes 33 years to complete a full cycle.
This phenomenon makes it unique, where in one solar year we will have two Ramadans. The next time this happens will be in 2030
Dr Hasan Al Hariri,
Dubai Astronomy Group
“The lunar calendar, or a lunar-based year, is 11 days shorter than the solar calendar,” he said.
“So, for example, a full year is 354 days instead of the 365 days marked on the Gregorian calendar.
“Because of that, for each year that passes, Ramadan moves back by 10 or 11 days.
“This phenomenon makes it unique, where in one solar year we will have two Ramadans. The next time this happens will be in 2030.”
Dr Al Hariri said while from a "solar calendar perspective" the holy month will be marked twice in one year, from a lunar calendar standpoint it will still occur only once within a 354-day cycle.
He said the number of days of Muslim fasts during Ramadan will not change in 2030, as it is always a 29 or 30-day period, depending on the moon sighting.
How is the start of the holy month determined?
Ramadan is observed by more than 1.8 billion Muslims around the world and is believed to be the month when the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed.
The sighting of the Moon signifies the start and the end of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
In the days leading up to the holy month, religious authorities in the Middle East scan the night sky for the first glimpse of a crescent moon, heralding the start of Ramadan.
In 2030, it is expected that Ramadan will begin in early January and then again in late December.
The twice-yearly observance is due to happen again in 2063.
A version of this story was first published on April 12, 2022.
Low turnout
Two months before the first round on April 10, the appetite of voters for the election is low.
Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.
"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
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Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
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The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
Film: In Syria
Dir: Philippe Van Leeuw
Starring: Hiam Abbass, Diamand Bo Abboud, Mohsen Abbas and Juliette Navis
Verdict: Four stars
