Dubai Police readies ‘the cannon’ for Ramadan

@ Burj Khalifa, Eid prayer grounds in Deira and Bur Dubai, Safa Park and JBR

DUBAI 22 May 2017: Everyday during the holy month of Ramadan, a single shot will be fired at the time of iftar and two shots will be fired to mark the start of the holy month and the commencement of Eid.

Lt.Col Eng. Abdullah Mubarak bin Mussbeh, Head of the Arms and Ammunition dept. at the General Department of Services and Supplies at Dubai Police, said that Dubai Police have been making the final arrangements and remain on standby to fire the cannons that will announce the sighting of the new crescent and the start of Ramadan, as is tradition since the early 1960s.

He said that the department has equipped six cannons, including four core and two reserves, which are to be used in the event one of the cannons malfunctions.

The British-made 25 PDR MK1L Conons piece artillery has a sound range of 170 decibels, which, bin Mussbeh explained, reached most residential communities in the past, but due to urban development the range has considerably decreased.

A group of 20 people have been assigned to ensure the cannons are shuttled to the chosen spots in, Burj Khalifa, Eid prayer grounds in Deira and Bur Dubai, Safa Park and the Jumeirah Beach Residence.

Lt. Col. bin Mussbeh explained the cannon has become an important tradition of the holy month, with tour companies adding them on their tourist routes during Ramadan.

By Sheena Amos