Sharjah residents will find it easier than ever to give this Ramadan, as Sharjah Charity International rolls out a major digital and community-wide donation drive ahead of the holy month.

The charity has confirmed full readiness to receive Zakat and Ramadan donations, introducing new tech-enabled solutions alongside traditional giving channels to make contributions faster, safer and more accessible across the emirate.

Smart donation screens in malls

As part of the Ramadan 2026 campaign “Jood”, 18 smart donation screens have been installed in major shopping malls across Sharjah.

The digital platforms allow donors to contribute using:

• Apple Pay
• Samsung Pay
• QR code scanning
• Credit cards

The move replaces traditional collection methods with secure, cashless options designed for convenience during busy Ramadan evenings.

Thousands of donation boxes across emirate

Sharjah Charity International has also expanded its physical donation network, including:

• 6,729 small donation boxes in grocery stores across the emirate
• 100 donation boxes placed in mosques and public locations during Friday prayers, Taraweeh and Qiyam Al Lail
• 578 donation cabinets installed in mosques in coordination with the Sharjah Department of Islamic Affairs
• 730 large donation boxes in hotels under the “Enmaa Al Khair” initiative

In addition, 83 electronic donation devices have been placed in hotels in partnership with the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority.

Handheld devices and volunteers deployed

To support peak giving times, the association has introduced:

• 256 handheld donation devices linked directly to headquarters for secure transactions
• 54 customer service staff stationed at malls and government centres
• 100 vetted volunteers overseeing donation efforts during high-traffic prayer times

Officials say all systems are designed to ensure transparency, speed and secure processing.

Multiple ways to donate in Sharjah

Residents can also donate via:

• The charity’s official website
• SMS services
• Smart donation links
• Credit cards and bank transfers
• Mobile app
• Call centre (80014)

With digital tools and thousands of donation points across malls, mosques, hotels and grocery stores, Sharjah Charity International expects high community participation throughout Ramadan 2026.

With Ramadan 2026 around the corner, UAE residents are being assured that essential grocery prices will remain protected, as authorities ban unauthorised price increases on nine staple food items and ramp up inspection campaigns across Dubai.

Grocery bills tend to rise during Ramadan as families prepare for Iftar and Suhoor, but officials say strict monitoring is already underway to prevent unfair price hikes and checkout discrepancies.

Which items cannot increase in price?

Retailers are not allowed to raise prices, without prior government approval, on these essential goods:

• Cooking oil
• Eggs
• Dairy products
• Rice
• Sugar
• Poultry
• Legumes
• Bread
• Wheat

Any attempt to increase prices on these items without approval can lead to immediate enforcement action.

What Dubai inspectors are checking

Inspection teams are visiting supermarkets, cooperatives and grocery stores across the emirate to:

• Ensure shelf prices match what customers pay at checkout
• Verify that promotions are genuine and clearly explained
• Monitor stock levels to prevent artificial shortages
• Stop any unauthorised price increases

Authorities say inspectors often pick random items from shelves and scan them at the counter to confirm prices match exactly.

If there’s a difference, it’s treated as a violation.

What happens if retailers break the rules?

Penalties can range from warnings to fines between Dh500 and Dh100,000. In serious or repeated cases, stores could face temporary closure.

Officials have stressed that protecting consumers during Ramadan is a priority, especially as household spending increases during the Holy Month.

Can prices differ between stores?

Yes — price differences between retailers are legal under UAE market competition rules. However, charging more at checkout than the displayed shelf price is not allowed.

Authorities have also instructed retailers to clearly display terms for loyalty-based promotions to avoid confusion.

Monitoring stock levels

In addition to price checks, regulators are monitoring supply chains to ensure shelves remain stocked and to prevent panic buying or artificial shortages.

Officials say compliance rates across UAE retailers remain high.

As Ramadan approaches, residents are being reminded that protecting the spirit of fairness and transparency in the market is a shared responsibility, and that any pricing concerns can be reported to authorities.

Dubai drivers using Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street can now expect significantly shorter journeys, after the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) completed Al Rowaiyah Street, a new 3.5-km direct link between the two major highways.

For daily commuters, the biggest impact is time. Travel time to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road has been reduced from around 10 minutes to just four minutes, a 60 per cent drop, easing congestion during peak hours.

Faster access for Silicon Oasis, Academic City

The new corridor improves entry and exit points for several high-density residential and education zones, including Dubai Silicon Oasis, Nadd Hessa, Dubai International Academic City and Warsan 4.

For residents commuting to work across Dubai, the direct connection removes the need for longer internal detours, helping streamline morning and evening traffic flows.

Increased capacity and smoother traffic flow

RTA confirmed that traffic capacity along Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street has increased by up to 40 per cent following the upgrade.

As part of the project, the former KHDA roundabout has been converted into a signalised intersection, improving safety and reducing bottlenecks at a previously congested junction.

For commuters navigating daily traffic across Dubai, the new Al Rowaiyah Street link is designed to deliver one key outcome faster, safer and more direct journeys between two of the city’s busiest arterial roads.