UAE leaders send greetings for happy and blessed Eid Al Fitr
The leaders of the UAE have wished the country’s people and everyone around the world a happy and blessed Eid Al Fitr.
President Sheikh Mohamed sent greetings to the leaders of Arab and Islamic countries.
He wished them and their people good health and happiness and more progress and prosperity, state news agency Wam reported. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, also sent Eid Al Fitr greetings to all those celebrating the holiday.
He congratulated the people of the UAE and all Arabs and Muslims around the world as they prepared to mark Eid.
“Happy Eid to the UAE and its people, to our Arab and Islamic nations and to the world,” Sheikh Mohammed wrote on Twitter. “May God accept your obedience, perpetuate your joys and fulfil all your aspirations.”
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, also sent Eid wishes.
Eid Al Fitr begins on Friday in the UAE, the country’s moon-sighting committee confirmed. The committee – a group of astronomers, court officials and advisers from the Emirates’ Islamic authority – on Thursday evening sighted the new crescent moon, which indicated Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar, would begin the following day.
Thursday was the 29th and final day of Ramadan this year. The holy month lasts either 29 or 30 days, depending on when the crescent moon is seen.
Pupils in the UAE will return to school on Monday. Earlier in the week, parents were told children would return to classrooms either on Monday or Tuesday, depending on when the crescent moon was sighted.
Eid holiday dates for employees had already been announced. Staff began their break on Thursday and will return to work on Monday.
The UAE embassy in Paris has hosted a special interfaith iftar, attended by guests from political, economic and cultural fields, as well as representatives from Muslim, Christian, Jewish and other religious communities in France.
The event also marked the recent opening of the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, which promotes dialogue between religions.
Ramadan this year coincided with Easter and Passover.
The iftar on Wednesday was attended by senior officials and was the embassy’s seventh session of Majlon events.
These activities bring together prominent figures from the UAE and France to discuss major issues of interest to both countries and to help strengthen Emirati-French relations, said officials.
“I was delighted to host this interfaith iftar with guests of all religions and cultures to celebrate openness and tolerance, which are pillars of Emirati society and are also values uniquely embodied by the Abrahamic Family House,” said Hend Al Otaiba, the UAE’s ambassador to France.
“In a challenging time for our societies, dialogue, exposure and understanding are of paramount importance.
“The Abrahamic Family House reflects the UAE’s commitment to supporting tolerance, peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding, strengthening bridges of communication and dialogue, and achieving common benefits, which contributes to stability and prosperity regionally and internationally.”
Abdulla Al Shehhi, project director of the Abrahamic Family House, delivered a presentation on the unique institution, which is a symbol of the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence that characterise the UAE. It features a mosque, church and synagogue.
Mr Al Shehhi explained how these values reflect the vision of UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and the late President Sheikh Khalifa, while President Sheikh Mohamed continues to support and promote these principles.
“We are grateful to the UAE embassy in Paris for organising this important event, which reflects the principles of human fraternity, and is a vivid example of the values of tolerance and coexistence established in the country embodied in the house of the Abrahamic family,” said Ms Al Otaiba.