After taking 2020 and 2021 off, the UAE’s famed Iftar tents will be making a full official return this Ramadan.
Yep, the tradition will continue starting Ramadan this April 2, if the moon is sighted.
There will however be some guidelines, so listen closely.
UAE Ramadan Tent rules 2022:
- To enter a tent, attendees must show a green AlHosn pass or negative PCR test.
- Guests in the tent must keep a physical distance between themselves and others at all times
- Guests must keep masks on at all time sunless eating or drinking—face masks and hand sanitizer will be provided in each tent (by law!)
- Capacity will be controlled, so check with security at the entrance of each tent to make sure it’s ok to go in
- Disposable table covers must be used, and disposable plates, cups and spoons are suggested, so be ready for that or bring your own cutlery if you aren’t a plastic person
- Handshakes are a no-no—avoid handshakes
- Iftar tents will open early—two hours before Maghrib prayer to avoid overcrowding at the time to break fast
- Every Iftar tent has to have a permit from the Emirates Red Crescent—so if it doesn’t, it’s not a legal Iftar tent!
Ramadan 2022 and beyond
With Ramadan coming in April this year, with an expected start date of April 2 and an ending date of May 1, that would most likely mean that Eid Al Fitr will fall on Monday, May 2.
That would mean exactly what you hope it means—a five-day long holiday starting Saturday, April 30 and going until Wednesday, May 4.
We can’t be sure, of course, as all dates are subject to the sighting of the moon, which won’t be determined until the night before.
the UAE switched to a Saturday-Sunday weekend at the beginning of this year, as announced in December.
As this year will see us inching towards summer, that will mean longer days throughout this year’s Ramadan, and fasting hours that will go from 13 hours and 40 minutes at the beginning of pril all the way until 14 hours and 20 minutes by the beginning of May.
Two Ramadans in 2030, three Eids in 2033
If you want to look even further into the future, in 2033 (yes, 2033, we’re thinking ahead), Eid al Fitr is predicted to begin on 23 December, with Christmas on 25 December
You may remember as well that there’s going to be two Ramadans in 2030.
We’ve done the math and found something remarkable—there’s going to be three Eids in 2033. And the third one is going to fall on Christmas!
If this isn’t going to be the greatest holiday season in history, we don’t know what is.
But wait—how is that possible?
Here’s how: The Islamic calendar and the Gregorian calendar don’t match up exactly as the Islamic calendar relies on the cycles of the moon. Because of that, the lunar month moves forward by about 10 to 11 days each year.
That’s why, in 2030, Ramadan will fall both in January and again in December.
Following each Ramadan is an Eid—so shouldn’t there be two Eid Al Fitrs in 2030 too? Not so fast.
Because 2030’s second Ramadan will begin in December, it won’t end until the end of the following January.
According to Alhabib.info, which tracks the Islamic (Hijri) Calendar and compares it to the Gregorian calendar, based on global crescent moon sighting probability, in the year 1454 to 1455 AH, which corresponds to 2033 CE, there will be three Eids that year.
Let’s break it down: First, Eid al-Fitr will begin on 1 Shawwal 1454 AH, which should be Monday, 03 January 2033.
Next, Eid Al-Adha should begin on 10 Dhul-Hijjah 1454 AH, corresponding likely with Friday, 11 March 2033.
Then Ramadan will begin again at the end of November, likely 23 November 2033, a Wednesday.
That would mean 2033’s second Eid al-Fitr, 1 Shawwal 1455 AH, will likely begin Friday, 23 December 2033.
There you go. Three Eids in 2033.
Merry Christmas Eid!
This is all, of course, subject to the lunar cycles, which won’t be official until they are declared the night before, so don’t book your holidays just yet.
Or do, you’ll probably get a great deal.