UAE Mosques Can Now Accommodate Up To 50% Capacity

Worshippers are required to keep a two-metre distance from each other.

Following the Eid Al Adha 2020 holidays, mosques across the UAE will now be able to accommodate a larger number of worshippers.

Starting Monday, the capacity limit has increased from 30 per cent to 50 per cent, according to Saif Al Dhaheri, the spokesman for the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (Ncema) on Wednesday.

UAE mosques reopened at 30 per cent of its usual intake on July 1. Friday prayers continue to be prohibited.

The period between the call to prayer and the start of prayers will be extended to 10 minutes, except for the maghrib prayer which is set at five minutes.

The maximum capacity was introduced to prevent possible contact between worshippers and discourage socialising.

Health and safety rules to follow

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf) stated that visitors to places of worship are required to stay two metres apart from one another.

Worshippers are asked to perform ablution at home before attending the mosque, must wear face masks, and should not greet one closely.

If you will visit a mosque for prayer, please bring your own copy of the Quran and prayer mats, download the UAE's COVID-19 tracking and testing app "Al Hosn", and avoid touching surfaces and doors.

Elderly, children and people with health risks have been requested to continue praying at home.

Mosques and other places of worship in the country were closed for months as part of restrictions imposed by the authorities to reduce the spread of the outbreak.

Health authorities reported 239 new COVID-19 patients, 360 further recoveries, and zero deaths. This brings the total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the UAE to 60,999 with 54,615 recovered. The death toll is at 351.