DUBAI: The UAE is reopening of prayer rooms in malls and towers at 30 percent capacity starting July 20 as the country further eases measures earlier imposed to control the spread of coronavirus.
Worshippers must maintain a physical distance of two meters, are neither allowed to gather before and after prayer, must also avoid shaking hands in all forms, sanitize their hands before entering the prayer rooms as well as have their masks worn at all times, state news agency WAM reported.
People are also required to recite the Quran via their personal electronic devices including their smartphones and must use a single-use prayer mat, which will be available in the prayer rooms, WAM added, quoting the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments and the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority.
Ablution areas will be disinfected after being used by each person while prayer rooms will also be sterilized following each prayer and closed until the next call for prayer.
The UAE meanwhile confirmed 289 new coronavirus cases overnight after carrying out 46,000 additional tests.
The country now has 56,711 infections to date.
One person also died from COVID-19 complications, raising the country’s death figure to 338, health officials said.
The number of recoveries rose to 48,917 after 469 patients were later tested negative from coronavirus.
UAE reopens prayer rooms in malls, towers as coronavirus measures further eased
https://arab.news/w7vua
UAE reopens prayer rooms in malls, towers as coronavirus measures further eased
- Worshippers must maintain a physical distance of two meters
- The UAE confirmed 289 new coronavirus cases overnight
Syrian authorities arrest 3 suspects linked to Coastal Shield Brigade over ‘terrorist threats’
- They are accused of planning attacks on internal security sites and the army in Latakia governorate
LONDON: Syrian authorities arrested the alleged leaders of a criminal group affiliated with militant organization the Coastal Shield Brigade in the city of Latakia on Monday.
Jaafar Ali Alia (also known as Lt. Abbas), Rashid Ghiath Alia and Ali Abdul Sattar Khalilo are accused by the Ministry of Interior of targeting internal security sites and the army in Latakia governorate.
“The cell’s members appeared in video clips threatening to carry out terrorist attacks against sites belonging to the Ministries of Interior and Defense,” the Interior Ministry said.
Authorities allege that Miqdad Fatiha, a former Syrian Republican Guard commander and head of the Coastal Shield Brigade, provided the cell with financial and logistical support.
Fatiha has been on the run since the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024. Last month, the UK imposed sanctions on him and several other former Assad regime officials over their involvement in violence in Syrian coastal towns that resulted the deaths of hundreds of people in March 2025.
On Sunday, authorities arrested Haider Ali Othman in Al-Qardaha, the hometown of the Assad clan, on charges of inciting violence and chaos during protests last month in Latakia.
