How many hours will Dubai residents be fasting this Ramadan?

By Yousra ZakiFebruary 3, 2023

This Ramadan, UAE residents can expect to fast for around 13 hours.

Every day, the fasting time will become longer by a few minutes. That’s because we’re getting closer to summer, when days become longer and longer up until June 21, 2023.

We used the Dubai prayer timings to calculate the intervals between Fajr (the prayer preceding sunrise) and Maghrib (the prayer marking sunset) on the expected first day of Ramadan, March 22, 2023.

You might also like: Ramadan 2023: Expected dates for Holy Month revealed

On the first day of Ramadan in Dubai, Muslims will be fasting from dawn until dusk. They need to begin the fast at 5.03am and end the fast at 6.31pm.

That’s exactly 13 hours 28 minutes of fasting on the first day of Ramadan.

The second day of Ramadan will be a slightly longer fast at 13 hours 31 minutes. That’s because the Fajr prayer time has moved up to 5.01am and the maghrib prayer time has been pushed slightly to 6.33pm.

Towards the end of Ramadan, the Dubai iftar time will take place at 6.45pm.

Ramadan is expected to end on April 21, 2023.

Ending the fast

Iftar is the meal to end the fast after sunset. Typically, people will enjoy dates, dried apricots and Ramadan juices, before heading to sunset prayer. After that, large meals are the norm, usually with family and friends.

Right before starting their fast, Muslims have a meal called suhoor. Suhoor is a meal enjoyed just before sunrise and before the day of fasting starts. Many hotels host smaller buffets, traditional activities and more to celebrate until the wee hours of the morning.

Why do Muslims fast during Ramadan?

Muslims fast as a means of physical and spiritual purification during the Holy Month. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam and is observed by Muslims during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

The purpose of fasting is to increase self-discipline, humility, and empathy for those who are less fortunate. It is a way for Muslims to understand the struggle of hunger and thirst, and to learn self-control.

Overall, fasting during Ramadan is an important part of the Muslim faith, serving as a time for physical, mental, and spiritual renewal. It is a time for Muslims to focus on their relationship with Allah, to reflect on their actions and to strive towards self-improvement.