The UAE Council for Fatwa has announced that the Ramadan Crescent Moonsighting Committee will convene on Tuesday, February 17, at 6pm at the historic Qasr Al Hosn in Abu Dhabi to determine the start of Ramadan.

The committee will be chaired by Sheikh Abdullah bin Sheikh Al Mahfouz bin Bayyah, Chairman of the UAE Council for Fatwa, and attended by Dr Omar Habtoor Al Darei, Vice-Chairman of the Council.

Proceedings will begin after the Maghrib prayer, when the committee will review field observation reports and findings from accredited observatories across the UAE. Testimonies submitted from different parts of the country will also be examined in accordance with approved religious and procedural guidelines.

The Council said the meeting falls within its mandate to observe and confirm lunar months, reinforcing its role as the unified official authority for moon sighting in the UAE and strengthening the institutional framework for declaring the start of Islamic months.

Residents urged to take part

Residents and citizens have been invited to take part in sighting the crescent and to submit verified reports through the Council’s designated online platform. The Council emphasised the importance of reviving the prophetic tradition of moon sighting and encouraging community participation.

If the crescent moon is sighted on Tuesday evening, Ramadan will begin on Wednesday. If it is not sighted, the holy month will commence on Thursday.

An official announcement confirming the start date will be issued through authorised channels following the committee’s deliberations.

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Dubai Police has launched a citywide road safety campaign for the Holy Month, urging motorists to slow down and avoid rushing home in the minutes before sunset.

The initiative, titled ‘Ramadan Without Accidents’, is part of Dubai Police’s annual Ramadan outreach and aims to reduce speeding and reckless driving during the critical pre-Maghrib period, a time when traffic incidents typically increase.

Lieutenant Colonel Abdul Rahman Al Falasi, Director of the Traffic Awareness Department at the General Department of Traffic, said officers will be distributing Iftar meals to motorists at key junctions shortly before sunset. The move is designed to ease pressure on drivers who may feel compelled to speed to break their fast on time.

“Road safety remains a top priority, particularly during Ramadan when traffic patterns shift, and some motorists feel urgency to reach their destinations before Iftar,” he said, urging residents to plan journeys, stick to speed limits and exercise patience behind the wheel.

Locations for meal distribution:

• City Walk intersection
• Al Satwa roundabout
• Al Madina Mall
• Century Mall
• American Hospital Dubai
• Al Mizhar 4
• Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre intersection in Al Khawaneej

The campaign also includes a strong community component. Four volunteer initiatives will run throughout Ramadan, with 679 volunteers, including Dubai Police personnel and members of the public, currently registered on the Dubai Police Volunteer Platform.

Volunteers will support field activities, awareness campaigns and community engagement efforts, reinforcing the shared responsibility for safer roads during the holy month.

Dubai residents can now manage electricity and water services simply by asking questions on ChatGPT, after Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) expanded its customer support onto the AI platform.

DEWA says it is the first government utility in the world to provide services directly through an artificial intelligence system, moving beyond traditional websites and mobile apps.

Through ChatGPT, customers can:

• Check and review bills
• Access account details
• Get billing support
• Locate nearby EV Green Charger stations
• Find Customer Happiness Centres, including opening hours and contact details

More services are expected to be added gradually.

DEWA’s Managing Director and CEO, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, said the initiative reflects a broader shift toward embedding services within global AI platforms to deliver faster, more intuitive and proactive customer experiences.

Officials confirmed the system operates within DEWA’s existing governance, privacy and security framework, with safeguards in place as additional features roll out.

The move supports Dubai’s wider strategy to position itself as a global hub for artificial intelligence and sustainable innovation, integrating AI across public services to enhance accessibility and efficiency.