Eid Cannon Ready To Fire From Seven Locations In Dubai Marking The End Of Ramadan

Eid Cannons in Dubai, UAE. (Twitter/@DXBMediaOffice)

Dubai Police, United Arab Emirates (UAE) have announced seven locations around the emirate, where the Eid al-Fitr cannon will be fired.

The shooting of the cannon will mark the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan, signaling Muslims may stop the mandatory fasting. It will also mark the appearance of a new sickle on the Moon of Syawal which will welcome Eid al-Fitr.

Eid meriam is placed in several locations in Dubai, the Great Mosque of Zabeel, and at prayer places in Al Barsha, Nad Al Sheba, Nad Al Hamar, Al Baraha, Umm Suqeim and Hatta, the Dubai Media Office wrote on social media X, as quoted by The National News April 8.

The practice of firing cannons to mark the end of fasting is said to have started in Egypt in the 10th century. While in the UAE, the practice only started in the 1960s. This cannon fire can be heard up to a distance of 10 kilometers.

In Dubai, the Eid al-Fitr cannon is managed by local police. According to protocol, four officers from the Dubai Police must be present at each shooting. Two officers held cannons, one gave bullet casings and the other loaded them. The two officers behind are in charge of guarding the cannons and giving orders.

"Meriam Eid al-Fitr is considered a revival of local customs and traditions, and part of our adherence to authentic social heritage that has a strong roots in the memory and conscience of the Emirati people," said Major General Abdullah Al Ghaithi, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Operations in a press release., quoted from Khaleejtimes.

According to tradition, the cannon was fired twice to announce the start of the month of Ramadan, and once every day to announce breaking the fast. The cannon was also fired twice in a row to announce Eid al-Fitr, and twice in the morning of the holiday.

It is known that the announcement of the end of Ramadan and the entry of 1 Syawal will be announced by local authorities based on the emergence of the new moon.