Ramadan
Ramadan in Dubai: What is the cannon firing tradition?
Wed 7 February 2024
Learn more about Dubai's famed cannon firing ceremony — one of the oldest traditions of the Holy Month.
Learn more about Dubai's famed cannon firing ceremony — one of the oldest traditions of the Holy Month.
The Holy Month of Ramadan is a special time in Dubai, marked by traditions honouring the spiritual season. One especially significant custom is the ritual firing of cannons at sunset, known as midfa al iftar, which can be heard all around the city. Read on to know about this longstanding tradition.
First, what is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar, when Muslims around the world fast from sunrise to sunset for 30 days. Fasting is one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith and during the day, Muslims do not consume any food or water. This inspires continued spiritual discipline and serves as a reminder to be compassionate to those less fortunate.
Before the fast begins each day, Muslims will have a pre-sunrise meal called suhoor, while the fast-breaking meal at sunset is called iftar.
What is the Ramadan cannon firing tradition?
Every evening during Ramadan, the booming sound of cannons can be heard across the UAE at sunset. In Dubai, the police force operates the special cannons with blank cartridges at the city's popular tourist spots, as curious visitors gather to witness the spectacle.
Some historians say the custom began in 10th-century Egypt to let people know it was time for break their fast (iftar). In Dubai, it dates back to the 1960s, when there were no speaker systems in mosques to announce that it was time to break the day's fast. The cannons are believed to have been manufactured in Britain back in 1945.
The beloved tradition lives on, even as neighbourhood mosques now sound the call to prayer, known as adhan, using state-of-the-art loudspeakers.
Where can you see cannons being fired in Dubai?
While local TV stations broadcast the cannons being fired every evening during Ramadan, watching it live is an incredible experience. The sound echoes across the emirate from locations that include Burj Khalifa, and the Eid prayer grounds in Al Mankhool and Al Baraha. Meanwhile, you'll find most tourists gathering at Madinat Jumeirah's Fort Island, where one of the city’s iconic iftar cannons is ceremoniously fired at sunset.
Closely monitored and managed by Dubai Police, each cannon is fired twice in a row to announce the start of Ramadan, and once every day to announce iftar. On the occasion of Eid Al Fitr, which signals the end of Ramadan, cannons are fired twice in a row to announce the start of the festival, and twice again on Eid morning.