MCI, KSA tamps down on fraud at retail level pre-Eid

Source: MCI. Pre-Eid al Fitr inspections by the MCI.

As part of the ministry’s plan for Eid al Fitr, inspectors from the Ministry of Commerce and Investment (MCI), KSA have checked shops and outlets selling Zakat al Fitr items, clothing, Eid accessories and sweets, which are in demand during Eid.

In late May, MCI announced 252 violations in 5,079 shops were detected during its second inspection campaign for the Ramadhan season.

The ministry's reports showed an abundant supply of foodstuffs and consumer goods, which are typically in demand during the month, and the availability of alternatives for each item, enabling competition and price stability.

This Ramadhan campaign is part of the ministry's existing inspection rounds, and is aimed at ensuring the availability of Ramadhan commodities in markets and shops across KSA besides verifying the validity of these goods and the absence of any commercial fraud, such as that sales and promotions offered during Ramadhan are genuine.

MCI inspections generally verify the commitment of placing price tags on goods, and ensure that the price on the item matches the one at the cashier as well.

Interested?

Consumers may lodge complaints and feedback through MCI Consumer Call Center (1900), by applying for a Commercial Violation Report, or via smartphones.

Eid al Fitr announced in most countries

GCC news agencies have reported that Eid al Fitr is to fall on 25 June with the exception of Oman, reflecting reports that the new moon has been cited in various countries. The sighting of the moon represents the end of Ramadhan and the start of a new month, Shawwal, as well as the beginning of Eid al Fitr.

The Saudi Press Agency said that adult witnesses had confirmed seeing the new moon of Shawwal after sunset on the evening of 24 June, so the Supreme Court in KSA has ruled that 25 June is Eid al Fitr of the year 1438.

The Bahrain News Agency has similarly reported that the moon-sighting committee in Bahrain has announced that the first day of Eid al Fitr will be 25 June. All ministries and public institutions in Bahrain will be closed for three days in conjunction with the holiday. 

WAM, the Emirates News Agency, reported that the moon-sighting committee in the UAE has ruled on 25 June being 1 Shawwal and the first day of Eid al Fitr.

The Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) said the Crescent Sight-Seeing Authority in Kuwait has formally announced that Eid al Fitr will begin on 25 June. KUNA separately reported that Qatar, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria will also celebrate Eid al Fitr on 25 June.

On 21 June the Oman News Agency had already reported on astronomical calculations conducted by the Department of Astronomical Affairs at the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs on the visibility of the moon of the month of Shawwal on the evening of 29 Ramadan 1438, or 24 June 2017 in Muscat, and concluded that it would be "very difficult" and "almost impossible" to view the new moon at that time.

"As the moon will be in the conjunction phase in Muscat at 6:31 am and the moon will descend at 7:15 pm. The sun sets at 6:57 pm. This means that the moon will descend after sunset by about 18 minutes and the height of the moon will be three degrees," the agency cited the Department of Astronomical Affairs as saying at the time. 

After the moon was not sighted on the evening of 24 June, media in Oman reported that 25 June will be the last day of Ramadhan and the first day of Eid will fall on 26 June.

Kuwait announces Eid weather forecast, MoI's plans for Eid

The Kuwait Meteorological Center forecasts a hot day and night for the week of Eid al Fitr due to the Indian Monsoon, the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) has reported.

Abdulaziz Al-Qarawi, superintendent of the weather forecast, told KUNA that the maximum temperature will be between 44 and 46 degrees Celsius in the day for the first day of Eid, and between 29 and 31 degrees in the night. The second day of Eid, 26 June, will be marked by maximums of between 47 and 49 Celsius by day, and between 30 and 32 Celsius by night. The third day of Eid will remain relatively hot, he said.

KUNA has separately reported on the Ministry of Interior (Mol)'s preparations for Eid. The Director of the ministry's Security Media and Public Relations Department Brigadier Adel Al-Hashash has shared a security plan to control traffic at roads and intersections across the country as well as at border entry points. There is coordination round the clock among all security directorates and concerned bodies to carry out the plan, and negative behaviours like quarrels will be dealt with quickly.

According to KUNA, Al-Hashash appealed to parents to keep an eye on children in public places, and for drivers not to use their mobile phones while driving. He also urged people not to park at the places allocated to the disabled.

Eid packages at Seagull Hotel valid till 10 July

Source: Seagull Hotel. Room interior.

Seagull Hotel in Bangladesh has an Eid offer that is in force till 10 July 2017. There are five Eid packages to choose from, beginning from TK16,500, differing only in the choice of rooms.

Eid Package 1, at TK16,500, includes:

• Stay of three days and two nights at Seagull (regular hillside)
• Welcome drinks, newspaper, Wi-Fi and Kids Zone
• Daily buffet breakfast for two persons per room
• Daily Eid Special Lunch or dinner for two persons
• Bottled water (1l per day)
• Swimming pool
• Airport pickup at and dropoff to Cox's Bazar Airport
• A 10% discount on food (ala carte only)
• A 15% discount on sauna and steam bath
• A 40% discount on the gym
• A 20% discount on pool/billiards

The hotel overlooks the Bay of Bengal and has hills nearby, and offers deluxe accommodation in 181 guest rooms and suites.
 
Interested?

Seagull Hotel
Hotel Motel Zone, Cox's Bazar Sea Beach
Cox’s Bazar
Dhaka, Bangladesh

Eid Al Fitr in a luxurious Turkish suite

Source: Mandarin Oriental Bodrum. Living room interior.

The Mandarin Oriental Bodrum, Turkey has a suite offer till 2 July that begins at EUR1,325. The package includes:

• Complimentary fourth night when booking three consecutive nights in a suite
• Daily full breakfast at the Sofra Restaurant for up to two guests
• Special Eid in-room amenities
• Resort credit of EUR150 per suite to be used for food and beverage or spa services per stay/ per unit
• VIP roundtrip transfers to/from Bodrum International Airport
• Premium class VIP Airport and Lounge Service on arrival and departure
• Minimum four-night stay

Interested?

Mandarin Oriental Bodrum
Cennet Koyu Çomça Mevkii Göltürkbükü,
Bodrum, 48400,
Muğla, Turkey
+90 252 311 18 88
 
View the terms and conditions

President Duterte of the Philippines hopes for a peaceful, prosperous future that includes all Filipinos

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's message to the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) on the occasion of Eid al Fitr notes that Ramadhan instils in the heart understanding, peace, sympathy, and love for fellow human beings, and ends with the hope that all members of the Muslim Filipino communities "to unite with other Filipinos to achieve lasting peace, political stability, economic growth and development".

President Duterte proclaimed July 6 a public holiday nationwide so that the religious and cultural significance of Eid al Fitr is emphasised and to give entire Filipino nation the opportunity to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in peace and harmony in the observance of and celebration of the occasion.

Eid will fall on 6 July in most of GCC

The Crescent Sighting Committee of the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs in Qatar has announced that July 5 will be the 30th day of Ramadhan, as the new moon for the following month of Shawwal had not been sighted.

The next day, July 6, will therefore be the first day of Eid al Fitr, the Qatar News Agency has reported.

WAM, the news agency for the UAE, has also stated that due to no moon sightings reported to the moon-sighting committee in UAE, leading to Wednesday being the first day of the month of Shawwal and the first day of Eid al Fitr.

Sultan bin Saeed Al Badi, Minister of Justice and chair of the committee, was cited in a statement following at meeting at Abu Dhabi Judicial Department that the committee has not sighted the Shawwal crescent moon for the Islamic year 1437 and ruled that 5 July 2016, will be the last day of Ramadhan and Wednesday 6 July, will be the first day of Shawwal 1437.

The Bahrain News Agency has likewise reported that Eid will begin on Wednesday. The Supreme Islamic Affairs Council (SIAC) moon-sighting committee met on Monday and received no testimonies confirming the birth of Shawwal crescent, the agency reported. The Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) has also said that the Shawwal moon was not sighted on Monday evening, making Wednesday the first day of Eid. KUNA also noted in a separate report that it will be a Wednesday Eid for Iraq and Lebanon.

Ramadhan will end on 5 July, the KSA Royal Court has announced. In a statement reported by the Saudi Press Agency, the Royal Court said that it has been notified by the Supreme Court that, following reports received from courts based on monitors who are devoted to verify personally whether the lunar month of Ramadhan is over or to go on for another day, as per the instructions of the Prophet Mohammed (ﷺ), the moon heralding the month of Shawwal was not seen with the naked eye. Tuesday 5 July is thus the 30th day of Ramadhan 1437 and the next day is the first day of Shawwal 1437, and the first day of Eid al Fitr, a three-day celebration following Ramadhan.

Today is 29 Ramadhan in Oman, and the moon-sighting committee will be in session in the evening to determine if Eid falls on Wednesday or Thursday.

Dubai Roads and Transport Authority commits extra hours for services over Eid al Fitr

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the timings of its services during the Eid al-Fitr holidays, covering customer service centres, car parks, public buses, Dubai Metro & Tram services, marine transit, driving institutes, as well as vehicles testing & registration centres.
 

Source: RTA. Al Marri.

Moaza Al Marri, Director of Marketing & Corporate Communication, RTA Corporate Administrative Support Services Sector, said: “Customer Service Centers will be off-duty the during Eid al-Fitr holiday from Sunday 3rd July 2016 and will resume duty on Sunday 10 July 2016. All paid parking zones in Dubai will be free of charge except for the parking lots of the Fish Market and the Multi-level Parking terminal starting from Sunday 3rd July, and fees will be activated on Saturday 9 July."
 

Al Marri added that trains will be running almost 24 hours during the holidays. 

 

Red Line stations

Tuesday 5 July: 5.30am to 11.59pm.

Wednesday 6 July: 12am to 2am; 5.50am to 11.59pm.

Thursday 7 July: 12am to 2am; 5.30am to 11.59pm.

Friday 8 July: 12am to 2am; 10am to 11.59pm.

Saturday 9 July: 12am to 2am.

 

Green Line stations

5 July:  5.50am to 11.59pm

6, 7 July: 12am to 2am; 5.50am to 11.59pm

8 July: 12am to 2am; 10am to 11.59pm

9 July: 12am to 2am.

The tram service will operate from 5 to 7 July from 6:30am to 1am the next day. On 8 July, the tram service will start at 9am and continue up to 1am on 9 July.

The Route C01 bus will operate around the clock. Other public buses will have varied timings:

 

Main bus stations, e.g. the Gold Souk

6, 7 July: 5.20am to 12 midnight (next day)

 

Al Ghubaiba Station; subsidiary stations, such as Al Qusais and Satwa

6, 7 July: 5am to 12 midnight (next day)

 

Al Quoz Industrial Area station

6, 7 July: 5.30am to 11.30pm

 

Jebel Ali station 

6, 7 July: 6am to 10.15pm 

 

Metro feeder service stations such as Rashidiya, Mall of the Emirates, Ibn Battuta, Abu Hail, Etisalat, and Burj Khalifa Dubai Mall

6, 7 July: 5.15am to 1.10am (next day)

 

The service timing of commercial transport and inter-city bus services will be as follows: 

 

Main stations, such as Ghubaiba to:

Sharjah (Jubail): 24 hours 

Abu Dhabi: 5am to 12:50am the following day

 

Subsidiary stations, such as Sabkha will start at 6.30am and continue to 12 midnight. 

Union Square Station: 5am to 12:30am the next day. 

Deira City Center: 6:55am to 10pm. 

Karama Station: 6:10am to 10:15pm. 

Al Ahli Club Station: 7am to 11pm. 

 

External stations: 

Sharjah (Al Taawon): 7am to 11:30pm.

Al Fujairah Station: 6:45am to 10:30pm.

Ajman Station: 6am to 11:30pm.

Hatta Station: 6:30am to 10:40pm.

From 5 to 7 July, water buses at Marina Stations (Marina Mall, Marina Walk, Marina Terrace, and Marina Promenade) will run from 12 noon to 12 midnight. 

Water taxis will operate daily from 9am to 10pm. 

At Al Ghubaiba Station, the water taxi will operate from 4pm to 10pm

At Dubai Marina station it will operate from 2pm to 10pm. 

From Jumeirah Palm Atlantis, the service timings will be from 4pm to 10pm. 

From Jumeirah Palm Station (Rexos) it will run from 11am to 5pm.

Dubai Ferry will operate at Al Ghubaiba and Marina stations during the Eid holidays at 11am, 1pm, and then at 3pm, 5pm and 6:30pm.

The working hours of traditional abra (boats) at Dubai Creek Stations (Al Ghubaiba, Al Sabkha, Baniyas, and Dubai Old Souk) will be from 10am to 12 midnight. The Blue (electrical) abra will operate at Burj Khalifa from 6pm up to 11pm, at Al Mamzar from 2pm to 12 midnight, and at Atlantis from 1pm to 9pm. The air-conditioned abra at Al Jaddaf will operate from 7am to 12 midnight.

All service providers and partner centres will be closed from 5 to 7 July 2016.
Interested?

View detailed Eid al Fitr timings for all RTA services

Qatar announces Eid al Fitr holiday dates

The Emiri Diwan in Qatar has announced the dates for the Eid Al Fitr holiday for government entities and public institutions.

According to the announcement, which was reported by the Qatar News Agency, the holiday begins from July 3 and ends on July 11. Work resumes on July 12.

For the Qatar Central Bank (QCB), banks, financial institutions under QCB's jurisdiction, and the Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA), the QCB governor will specify the start and end dates of the holiday.

Banks to be closed over Eid al Fitr holiday in Kuwait

All banks in Kuwait will be closed from July 5 to 9 for the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, the Kuwait Banking Association (KBA) has announced, according to a report from the Kuwait News Agency.

According to a notice by the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK), all banks will resume operations on July 10.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) had announced that the Eid Al-Fitr holiday starts on July 5 and ends on July 9 irrespective of whether the month of Ramadhan totals 29 or 30 days.

Oman announces dates of Eid al Fitr holiday for 2016

Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal bin Saud al-Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court, Chairman of the Civil Service Council in Oman has announced that the Eid Al Fitr holiday for employees at the ministries, public authorities and other departments of the State Administrative Apparatus will start 5 July 2016 (29 Ramadhan 1437) and end 9 July (3 Shawwal 1437). Work resumes on 10 July 2016. 

Sheikh Abdullah bin Nassir al-Bakri, Minister of Manpower stated the Eid Al Fitr holiday at the private sector will also be from 5 till 9 July.

Employees whose weekly off-days coincide with the holiday must be compensated.

Moon-sighting to determine the start of the month of Shawwal, and therefore the end of Ramadhan and the beginning of Eid will be declared by the competent authorities. 

The decisions were reported by the Oman News Agency.

UAE Financial Markets announce Eid holiday

The Eid al-Fitr holiday for UAE financial markets will begin on 29 Ramadhan (16 July), and trading will resume on 4th Shawwal, reported the Emirates news agency WAM.

This was announced by the Securities and Commodities Authority based on a circular issued by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, FAHR, on the holidays for Eid al-Fitr.

posted from Bloggeroid