Photo used for illustrative purpose.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) announced on Wednesday the new updates to the protocol for organising prayers in mosques and women prayer rooms during the holy month of Ramadan.

NCEMA said: "The month of Ramadan coincided for the third year in a row with the Covid 19 pandemic, and the past two years witnessed an acceptable commitment by society and a commendable response to the precautionary measures. We hope that commitment and awareness will continue during this year."

NCEMA called on all society members to adhere to all necessary precautions and measures to curb the spread of Covid 19, represented in physical distancing, avoiding gatherings as much as possible, and wearing the face mask in gathering places.

Regarding the protocol for organising prayers in mosques in Ramadan, the number of worshipers has been increased and many procedures which were suspended due to the pandemic conditions have been resumed,” NCEMA indicated.

According to the updated protocol, it is allowed to resume prayers in women's prayer rooms, resume daily mosque lessons after Asr or Isha prayers.

Also, lectures by the guests of His Highness the UAE President are allowed.

Drinking water will be allowed to be distributed to worshipers, provided that it is canned, and there should be volunteers to monitor the precautionary measures, such as wearing masks, using a personal or single-use carpet, and adhering to the previously announced precautionary measures, the Authority affirmed.

The updates also stipulate keeping a distance of one metre between worshipers, performing Taraweeh prayers throughout the month, and Tahajjud prayers in the last ten nights, according to certain regulations.

The authority affirmed that the time between the Isha Adhan to prayer will be 20 minutes, with 45 minutes for the Isha prayer with the Taraweeh prayer (8 rak’ahs) and two rak’ahs of Shafa’ and Witr prayer.

Taraweeh prayers are to be held immediately after the Isha Sunna prayer.

A time not more than 45 minutes is allocated for the Tahajjud prayer in the last ten days of Ramadan, according to NCEMA.

The updates also stipulate that the worshipers have to line up in a straight vertical line instead of an (X) shape, in order to facilitate the entry and exit.

NCEMA indicated that it had previously allowed the provision of the Holy Qur’an (Moshafs) in mosques and women chapels, provided that they are sterilized after use, and that the time for holding the five daily prayers would be adjusted to what they were before the pandemic.