Ajman authorities cancel Ramadan tents and plan free meals campaign

The move follows Dubai authorities' decision to halt all public meal tents in the holy month

A Sikh chef at GuruNanak Darbar temple in Jebel Ali, Dubai, serves up meals to worshippers of all faiths. Christian churches and Sikh temples often join mosques in offering free meals during Ramadan. Show more

Ajman's government has halted plans to run public tents in Ramadan, instead pledging a free meals campaign for people in need.

The decision to call off the tents initiative – which usually feeds thousands each day free of charge throughout the holy month – follows a similar decision in Dubai last week.

Officials said permits that are normally given out to charitable organisations and private donors have been cancelled.

Iftar meals – the meal taken to break the fast after sunset – will be distributed throughout the emirate by registered charities. These organisations will closely follow coronavirus safety rules.

Ajman's Charitable Activities and Endowments Coordination Council said it would coordinate with charities to plan meal distribution.

In Ramadan, mosques, charitable organisations and private donors welcome people of all faiths and nationalities, particularly low-income workers and families, to break their fast each evening.

Last year, free iftar gatherings were cancelled across the country as the scale of the pandemic became clear and Covid-19 cases quickly rose.

Instead, free meals were given out in doorstep campaigns, at a time when many families were losing jobs.

Dubai and Ajman's authorities are yet to decide whether tents for iftar and suhoor – the pre-dawn meal taken before fasting – will be allowed this year in hotels.

These typically offer all-you-can-eat buffets for a set price.

Earlier, the UAE reported 2,959 new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday, with a further 14 deaths.

In its daily coronavirus update, the government said 1,901 patients had been given the all-clear.

The update also showed 242,159 people had been tested – marking one of the biggest days for screening to date.

Weekend figures for testing are typically high, as people prepare to travel or get a weekly or fortnightly test as mandated by their employer.

The latest fatalities took the death toll to 1,310.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, 408,236 Covid-19 cases have been recorded, with 391,205 recoveries.

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