The Holy Month of Ramadan is celebrated every year for around 29 to 30 days and marks a time of prayer and fasting around the world.
With Ramadan expected to begin on 23 March, based on the sighting of the moon, Muslims, globally abstain from eating or drinking, from when the sun rises till it sets.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and fasting is a reminder for people to feel compassion for the individuals that are less fortunate.
During the Holy Month of Ramadan, the five pillars of Islam followed by Muslims are:
Shahada (Faith): Muslims are required to declare that they believe that there is only one God, Allah, and in his messenger, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Salah (Prayer): During Ramadan, praying five times a day is observed.
Zakat (Almsgiving): Ramadan is a time of giving where Muslims are encouraged to give to the less fortunate.
Sawm (Fasting): Throughout the Holy Month, Muslims, starting from the age of 11 or 12 years old, begin fasting and from then on continue throughout their life.
Hajj (Pilgrimage): At least once during a Muslim's life, a pilgrimage is mandatory to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Muslims walk for around 10 kilometres around the Kaaba, which is located at the centre of the Masjid Al Haram, one of the most important mosques in Islam.
During the month, Muslims pray five times during the day, at dawn (Fajr), noon (Zuhr), mid-afternoon (Asr), sunset (Maghrib) and evening (Isha).
To mark the beginning of the fasting period in the morning, Muslims wake up before the sun rises and eat a meal called Suhoor, after which they do not eat or drink till sunset.
The duration for how long Muslim's fast depends entirely on the sun and when it rises and sets.
This year, when Ramadan begins Muslims will fast for around 10 hours and 33 minutes, and towards the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan, will fast for 12 hours and 26 minutes.
To mark the end of a fast, Muslims wait for the sun to set and traditionally break their fast with dates, followed by a filling meal called Iftar.
Before Muslims break their fast for Iftar, one of the ways to mark the end of fasting for the day is through Ramadan cannons.
Located in various places around the UAE, every day, cannons with blank cartridges are fired by the police authorities.
The amazing spectacle is one for all to check out during the Holy Month of Ramadan and can usually be found in popular tourist hotspots.
The tradition behind the Ramadan cannons being fired dates back to 1960s, due to many people being unable to know when it was time to break their fast, as there were no speaker systems at mosques to announce the end.
Working hours for the public and private sector as well as the school timings in the UAE are made shorter out of respect for the people fasting.
To make the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan, Eid Al Fitr is celebrated, which this year is expected to fall on 21 April and marks the start of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar.
The end of Ramadan is determined on the sighting of the moon. As days are calculated in accordance with the visibility of the moon and is celebrated the day the crescent moon is observed.
Eid is a time of celebration amongst family and friends and is commemorated with gathering of near and dear ones.
In the UAE, to celebrate Eid, most residents get a long weekend, with the public holidays generally falling in line with the weekend.
The Holy Month of Ramadan is a special time for all in the UAE, and is the perfect time for Muslims and non-Muslims to come together and learn from one another and celebrate the traditions and rituals followed during the month.