UAE mosques can take in more worshippers from tomorrow (August 3) when the country reopens after a four-day Eid Al Adha break.
Mosques have been operating at 30 per cent since they were reopened on July 1.
Worshippers must maintain a distance of two metres from one another, as opposed to three metres as announced earlier.
The gap between the call to prayer (azan) and the prayer (salah) will be increased to 10 minutes, except for Maghrib (sunset prayer), when the gap will be five minutes.
The new guidelines were announced during a virtual Press briefing in July.
All other precautionary measures announced previously by the authorities to keep the faithful safe from Covid-19 will remain in place. These include mandatory face masks at all times; worshippers having to bring their own prayer mats to mosques; performing ablutions at home; using the mosque only for the main prayers; and the elderly, children and those with chronic diseases having to continue praying at home for their own safety.
General guidelines to follow to stay safe at mosques:
Who should not enter mosques?
»Those aged above 60 years and below 12 years.
»People with chronic and respiratory diseases
»Those living with Covid-19 patients.
Do’s and don’ts
»Download contact tracing app AlHosn.
»Wear face masks during the prayers.
»Maintain a 2-metre distance from other worshippers.
»Bring your own prayer mats.
»Copies of the Holy Quran won’t be available. Use your phone Quran if you must at mosques.
»Avoid crowding at mosque entrances.
»Don’t shake hands or hug one another.
