The suburban Cairo mosque was full soon after the call for the noon prayers rang out on Saturday, forcing some worshippers to pray on the plaza or the lawn outside. But that was not because their numbers were more than the opulent mosque could ordinarily hold; social distancing meant that each one required more space.
In times of grave crisis, such as the deadly Covid-19 pandemic that has menaced Egypt for the past five months, religious practices ordinarily observed are sometimes shelved in good faith. The oft repeated Quranic verse and saying of the Prophet Mohammed that urges Muslims to stand shoulder-to-shoulder during war and prayers, like a wall whose bricks are closely cemented together, has become somewhat perilous to apply.
The temporary suspension of embracing that command was cited by the imam as a sign of Islam’s greatness.
“It was a very difficult time for all of us, but we are back and we offer our thanks to Allah,” said the imam, whose call for the prayers did not include “pray at home”, the phrase inserted when mosques were closed in March.
“Contrary to what many believe, our religion is very flexible,” said the young imam after he led up to 100 men in prayer at a mosque that could easily accommodate 500 to 600. “We have missed the houses of God and we are back now. It’s a blessing for which we are filled with gratitude and we should try and keep it by observing rules,” he told worshippers who showed up wearing blue surgical masks and carrying their own prayer rugs as part of precautions against the coronavirus.
Egypt on Saturday reopened mosques for worshippers for the first time since it ordered them shuttered three months ago, ending one of the most debated and emotionally charged measures to contain the spread of Covid-19.
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Coronavirus in the region
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Ironically, the decision to reopen the mosques along with churches, restaurants, cafes, cinemas and theatres came as the country of 100 million people is gripped by the worst stretch of the pandemic, with new cases of Covid-19 numbering well above 1,000 every day.
As of Friday night, authorities had reported 62,755 cases and 2,620 deaths. Of these, 36,203 cases and 1,565 fatalities – more than half of the total – were recorded this month.
The government maintains that Egyptians must learn to live with Covid-19 as best they can until a vaccine is developed, but they must also adhere to preventive measures such as social distancing, wearing masks in public and adopting hygienic practices like frequent washing of hands.
The aim, argues the government, is to prevent a continuing lockdown from causing an economic meltdown that would wipe out hard-won gains made over years of harsh reforms to overhaul the economy such as removing state subsidies on basic goods and services and introducing new taxes. But the grim numbers of Covid-19 cases and fatalities have led some to question the wisdom of reopening the country now.
Some Egyptians are using social media to warn that it is too soon to return to business as usual, urging their compatriots to stay home if they can, especially in the greater Cairo area, home to some 25 million people and more than half of all fatalities and cases since the coronavirus outbreak began in mid-February.
They also warned against frequenting cafes and restaurants, although authorities have instructed owners to operate at just 25 per cent of capacity, the ratio also applied to cinemas and theatres. A nighttime curfew has been lifted and July 1 will see the reopening of airports and the resumption of international and domestic flights. Public beaches and parks, deemed too dangerous, will remain shut.
Amid the debate about the timing of returning life to normal, the reopening of mosques appears to be the one move that is winning almost universal approval in this overwhelmingly Muslim nation. However, the traditional Friday sermon, like the Sunday liturgies, remain banned.
“I was happy to go back today,” said Sayed Mohammed, a 67-year-old businessman who offered the dawn prayers on Saturday at a downtown Cairo mosque frequented mostly by fundamentalist Salafi Muslims. “Some of the men brought their young children, something that’s only done during Ramadan or the major religious holidays. You could see that everyone was ecstatic,” he said.
Facing possible fines or loss of licence if they flaunt the regulations, most cafes in Cairo restricted seating to pavements outside their establishments and diligently enforced the limit on patrons and the mandatory use of masks indoors.
”We are back, and that’s really good, but with 25 per cent capacity, sales will be pretty low,” said a waiter at a coffee house belonging to an international chain.
The specs: 2017 Maserati Quattroporte
Price, base / as tested Dh389,000 / Dh559,000
Engine 3.0L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm
Torque 650Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Fuel economy, combined 10.7L / 100km
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group C
Liverpool v Napoli, midnight
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Poacher
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RESULTS
6.30pm: Emirates Holidays Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Lady Snazz, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Arabian Adventures Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zhou Storm, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7.40pm: Emirates Skywards Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Rich And Famous, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.15pm: Emirates Airline Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Rio Angie, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Emirates Sky Cargo (TB) Dh 92,500 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Kinver Edge, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
9.15pm: Emirates.com (TB) Dh 95,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Firnas, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
Tips for entertaining with ease
· Set the table the night before. It’s a small job but it will make you feel more organised once done.
· As the host, your mood sets the tone. If people arrive to find you red-faced and harried, they’re not going to relax until you do. Take a deep breath and try to exude calm energy.
· Guests tend to turn up thirsty. Fill a big jug with iced water and lemon or lime slices and encourage people to help themselves.
· Have some background music on to help create a bit of ambience and fill any initial lulls in conversations.
· The meal certainly doesn’t need to be ready the moment your guests step through the door, but if there’s a nibble or two that can be passed around it will ward off hunger pangs and buy you a bit more time in the kitchen.
· You absolutely don’t have to make every element of the brunch from scratch. Take inspiration from our ideas for ready-made extras and by all means pick up a store-bought dessert.
The specs: 2018 Peugeot 5008
Price, base / as tested: Dh99,900 / Dh134,900
Engine: 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 165hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 240Nm @ 1,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.8L / 100km
HWJN
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Remaining fixtures
Third-place-play-off: Portugal v Mexico, 4pm on Sunday
Final: Chile v Germany, 10pm on Sunday
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The%20specs
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MATCH INFO
Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
De Bruyne (70')
Man of the Match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Calendar 2018/19
July 29: OTA Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan
Sep 22-23: LA Convention Centre in Los Angeles, US
Nov 16-18: Carioca Arena Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Feb 7-9: Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Mar 9-10: Copper Box Arena in London, UK
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
