Mark End Of Ramadan, Dubai Will Fire Eid Al-Fitr Cannon At Five Points

The cannon that will be used as a marker of the end of Ramadan and the coming of Eid al-Fitr. (Source: Dubai Police via The National News)

JAKARTA - Dubai Police Authority announced that it will install the Idulfitri cannon, which will be fired as a marker of the end of Ramadan 1442 Hijri, welcoming the arrival of Eid al-Fitr 1 Syawal 1442 Hijri.

Dubai police announced there were five places around the emirate that would be the site of the Eid al-Fitr gunfire. A tradition that Dubaiers yearly look forward to and witness, but this year should be done online, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Every year families gather to watch the Eid al-Fitr cannon," Major Abdullah Tarish Al Amimi, Commander of the Artillery Unit at the General Department of Security and Emergency Protection, told The National News on Wednesday, May 12.

"However, due to the ongoing pandemic and in accordance with the precautions announced against COVID-19, the firing of Idulfitri cannons can only be seen on TV because no one is allowed to gather at the site," he said.

Major Al Amimi explained that the five points of Eid al-Fitr that were prepared include, Zabeel Grand Mosque, Al Salam Mosque in Al Barsha, Al Mamzar Street, Burj Khalifa and Al Mankhool areas.

To be aware, there will be two explosions marking the start of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan on the last day of fasting. Two shots were then fired again the morning before the start of Eid prayer.

The gun used was produced in England in the 1940s and has a sound range of 160 decibels, which can be heard up to 10 km away. Residents were asked to keep a distance of at least 30 meters from the cannon, due to a deafening sound.

According to protocol, four officers operated each gun. Two of them marched towards the cannon, one man was on standby in front of the barrel house and the other loaded it. Two officers remained behind as gun guards and gave orders.

"This gun is very valuable to us. They are about 80 years old and have been used in wars before. We are now using it as a sign of peace and tolerance," major Tarish said.