Eid al-Fitr hours reported for Sultan Armed Forces Museum, Oman

The Sultan Armed Forces (SAF) Museum, the only military museum in Oman, will be open for all citizens and residents in the sultanate of Oman over the Eid al-Fitr holidays, the Oman News Agency has reported.

It will be open: 

16 June 

9 am to 1.30 pm 

17 and 18 June

7.30 am to 1.30 pm 

The Museum will then resume receiving visitors from 23 June, opening from 9 am to 2 pm, and from 3 pm to 6 pm. 

It will be open from Sunday through Thursday of each week thereafter, from 7.30 am to 1.30 pm.

The museum is at Fort Al Falaj House in Ruwi, Muscat. The museum accommodates weapons, clothing, instruments, and other defence systems that chart the development of the Omani armed forces from pre-Islamic Oman until the Renaissance period, when HM ascended the throne. 

Outdoor exhibits include military equipment which have been used in the Sultan's Armed Forces, such as vehicles, tanks and aircraft and ships.

RTA reveals Ramadhan timings

Source: RTA, via Dubai Media Office. A tram station.

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced changes to the business hours of its services during the month of Ramadhan. Services affected by the retiming include Customers’ Happiness Centres, paid parking zones, public buses, Dubai Metro and Tram, marine transit modes, and service-provider centres (technical testing).

Yousef Al-Reda, CEO of Corporate Administrative Support Services Sector, RTA said, “The service timing of Customers’ Happiness Centres during Ramadhan will be as follows: Umm Al Ramool Center: From 9 am to 2 pm, from Sunday to Thursday. At Al Tawar, Al Awir, Al Manara, Deira, Al Barsha and Al Kafaf Centers: From 9 am to 5 pm, from Sunday to Thursday."

The Metro Stations on the Red Line and Green Line will be operating from Saturday to Wednesday from 5 am to midnight. On Thursday from 5 am to 1 am, and on Friday from 10 am to 1 am.

Dubai Tram will be operating from Saturday to Thursday from 6 am to 1 am, and on Friday from 9 am to 1 am.

“The service timings of public buses (Dubai Bus) during Ramadhan will be as follows: Main bus stations, such as Gold Souq, will operate from 4:25 am to 12:02 am. Al Ghubaiba Station will be in service from 4:16 am to 12:31 am. Substations, such as Satwa, will start from 5 am to 11:59 pm except for Route C01, operating around-the-clock. Al Qusais Station will run bus services from 4:20 am to 11:31 pm, and Al Quoz Industrial Station will be in operation from 6 am to 11:35 pm. Jebel Ali Station will operate from 5:40 am and continue up to 11:30 pm,” said Al-Reda.

Metro Link Bus stations at Rashidiya, Mall of the Emirates, Ibn Battuta, Burj Khalifa, Abu Hail, and Etisalat will be in service from 5 am to 12:20 am. Feeder bus service timings will be synchronised with metro journeys.

For intercity bus stations and commercial coaches, main stations, such as Al Ghubaiba, will operate around-the-clock to Sharjah (Jubail). The Abu Dhabi service will run from 4:40 am up to 12:05 am.

“Substations, such as the Union Square, will be in service from 4:30 am up to 12:35 am. Al Sabkha Station will run from 6 am until midnight, and Deira City Centre Station will be operating from 5:35 am until 11:30 pm. Karama Station will run bus services from 6:06 am until 10:19 pm and Al Ahli Club Station will open from 5:55 am to 10:15 pm.

External Stations, such as Sharjah’s Al Taawun, will run from 5:30 am to 9:58 pm and Fujairah Station will operate from 5:23 am to 9:30 pm. Ajman Station will open from 4:27 am until 11 pm and Hatta Station will be in operation from 5:30 am until 9:30 pm.

Marine transit

The Water Bus will operate at Marina Stations (Marina Mall, Marina Walk, Marina Terrace, and Marina Promenade) from noon to midnight. Dubai Ferry will arrive at Ghubaiba and Marina Stations at 11 am, 5 pm, and 6:30 pm. The ferry will depart from Al Jaddaf Station to Dubai Water Canal Station at 5:30 pm and from Dubai Water Canal Station to Al Jaddaf Station at 7:35 pm.

Water taxis (عبرة, abras) will operate daily, from 9 am to 10 pm.

“Abra timing during Ramadhan will be as follows: Traditional abra will operate in Dubai Creek Stations (Ghubaiba, Baniyas, Dubai Old Souq and Al Seef) from 10 am until midnight. At the Sheikh Zayed Road abras will operate from 8 pm to 2 am. The Electric abra at Burj Khalifa will operate from 8 pm to 11:30 pm, and the air-conditioned abra will operate (at Al Jaddaf, Dubai Festival City) from 7 am to midnight,” he added.

As for public parking, Al Reda said, “The parking fees will apply as follows from Saturday to Thursday: From 8 am to 6 pm, and from 8 pm to 00:00 (midnight). At Tecom, the tariff will apply from 8 am up to 6 pm." In multilevel parking lots, the fees are applicable 24x7.

Service-provider centres

Tasjeel Enoc (Al Qusais, Al Awir, Al Barsha, Al Tawar, and Warsan) are open Saturday to Thursday from 9 am to 3 pm, and from 8 pm to 2 am. In Hatta and Discovery Gardens the centres are open from 9 am to 3 pm, and at Jebel Ali from 8 am to 5 pm.

Emarat Shamil (Al Adid, Al Muhaisina, Nad Al Hamar, Al Qusais) are open from 9 am to 3 pm, and from 9 pm to midnight. Wasel (Belhasa, Al Arabi Center, and Nad Al Hamar) open from 9 am to 3 pm, and from 9 pm to 2 am (of the following day).

Quick Registration - vehicle testing and registration - will be open from 9 am to 5 pm, and from 9 pm to 3 am. Cars: From 9 am to 03:00 pm, and from 08:00 pm to 1 am (of the following day). Al Shirawi Enterprises - heavy vehicle testing - is open from 9 am to 5 pm.

Al Mumayaz vehicle testing (Aswaaq Al Mizhar, Al Barsha Mall) is open from 9 am to 3 pm, and from 8 pm to 1 am. Tamam Al Ghandi is open from 9 am to 3 pm, and from 9 pm to 2 am.

Selected Emirates Post offices to stay open till 6pm during Ramadhan

The Emirates Post Group (EPG) has announced that the official Ramadhan working hours will be from 9am to 2pm. Selected post offices will observe extended working hours from Saturday to Thursday.

The extended working hours, until 6pm, in selected post offices are in response to the needs of the public and form part of EPG's efforts to provide postal and non-postal services to customers for longer, the organisation said.

Interested?

Post offices with extended hours include:

First postal zone

• Abu Dhabi Central Post Office
• Hamdan Post Office
• Airport Post Office
• Mussafah
• Al Falah
• Bani Yas
• Tourist Club
• Mussafah Shabiya

Dubai

• Dubai Central Post Office (Karama)
• Creek Post Office Deira
• Deira Main Post Office
• Satwa
• Jumeirah and Al Rashidiya post offices
• 
  
• Hor Al Anz Post Office

Third postal zone

• Sharjah Central Post Office
• Sharjah Corniche
• Al Wahda
• Al Khan
• Al Ghuwair
• Moyeleh
• Sharjah Industrial post office
• Ajman Central, 
• Umm al-Quwain Central 
• UAQ industrial post office
• Al Madam
• Ajman industrial
• Mushairef 
• Al Zahra

Fourth postal zone

• Ras Al Khaimah Central
• Al Nakeel
• Al Oraibi Post Office

Fifth postal zone

• Al Ain Central Post Office 
• Al Ain Al Senaiya Post Office

Sixth postal zone

• Fujairah Central Post
• Khor Fakkan post office 
• Dibba Al Fujairah

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

Central Bank of Oman posts Ramadhan hours for banks

The Central Bank of Oman (CBO) has decreed that all banks will work from 9am to 1pm during Ramadhan 1437.

A circular from HE The Executive President's office has also provided detailed timings for all the services rendered by CBO.

Normal working hours will resume on the first working day after Eid Al Fitr.

Interested?

Read the circular (PDF)

Free entry to the Wild Wadi as part of the water park's Ramadhan campaign

Enjoy free access to the Wild Wadi Waterpark every Monday during Ramadhan in return for charitable clothing donations.

Mahmoud Sakr, General Manager, Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Wild Wadi Waterpark, said: “Every Monday between 3pm (and) 7pm throughout the Holy Month, guests who donate three items of clothes can enjoy the water park free of charge. We believe improving the community can only be accomplished through positive deeds and good conduct. There also needs to be a balance between commerce and social responsibility. Ramadhan is the time to set aside material concerns and refocus on spirituality which typically includes philanthropic work.”

View of Wild Wadi in 2009.

Special containers will be placed at the registration area where any piece of clothing in good condition can be donated. Tickets are limited to the capacity of the water park, and so subject to first-come, first-served basis. The clothing will be donated to support Beit Al Kheir Society, a non-profit organisation that provides assistance to underprivileged families in the region.

Interested?

Note that clothing donations after 5pm are unlikely to qualify for free entry into the water park. Ramadhan hours are 10am to 6pm, every day except Fridays, when they are 10am to 10pm. 

Book tickets online
 
Hashtag: #ExperienceWildWadi, #WildWadi, #betterwithjumeirah, #mydubai

We are open from 10am - 10pm every Friday this summer! More time for fun and thrills at #WildWadi. Tag a friend #mydubai #starlightfridays #betterwithjumeirah

A photo posted by Wild Wadi Waterpark (@wildwadiwaterpark) on Jun 10, 2016 at 3:56am PDT

NBB announces Ramadhan hours

Ramadhan hours for the National Bank of Bahrain in 2015 are:

Saturdays to Wednesdays: 9am to 2pm

Hamad Town,Riffa Bukawarah, A’Ali, Isa Town, Sitra, Central Market, Al Muthanna Road, Palace Avenue, Exhibition Road, Muharraq Souq, Airport, Al Budayia Highway

Sundays to Thursdays: 9am to 2pm

Main Branch, Asry, Al Hidd, North Muharraq, Diplomatic Area, Salmaniya, Lulu Road, Souq Waqef, Al Istiqlal Highway, Riffa Souq, Awali

Sundays to Thursdays: 10am to 1pm, 8.30pm to 10.30pm

Al Seef Mall Branch

Qatar Airways introduces Ramadhan promotions

Source: Qatar Airways website.

Qatar Airways is running Ramadhan promotions across the Middle East. The deadlines range from 25 July for Jodan, all the way to 8 July for Qatar.

In Jordan, passengers' deadline for booking is 25 June to enjoy up to 30% on Economy class and Premium class fares.* Passengers who book* their tickets departing Qatar from now until 8 July 2015 for travel from till 8 July 2015 enjoy up to 25% off on Economy Class and Premium Class fares. Privilege Club members will enjoy redemption discounts of up to 50% on the next flight booked between 15 September and 15 November 2015.*

Most of the booking deadlines are 30 June. For Bahrain, passengers who book tickets from now until 30 June 2015 for travel from 18 June 2015 until 31st October 2015 enjoy special fares on Economy Class and Premium Class fares*. The booking deadline for passengers departing from Iraq is also 30 June but travel is limited till 5 July 2015. Discounts are up to 25% off* on Economy Class. Passengers from departing from Lebanon also have the 30 June deadline, and may enjoy up to 20% off* on Premium class fares for travel until 14 July 2015. If in Oman, book the tickets from now until 30 June 2015 for travel from till 15 December 2015 for special Economy Class and Premium Class fares*.

The Ramadhan offer to Kuwait involves more private travel - an all-First Class experience with just 40 lie-flat all-First Class seats for travel between Kuwait and Jeddah. Privilege Club members earn 100% Bonus Qmiles for travelling from now to 20 July 2015*. The offer is applicable from 22 June 2015. A similar experience is available over Ramadhan between Doha and Jeddah for passengers departing KSA*. Travel has to be booked for between now and 16 July 2015.

The airline has also has announced its Ramadhan timings:

Saturday to Thursday: 8am to 2pm and then 4pm to 10pm
Closed on Fridays

This contrasts with opening hours for the rest of the year, which are:

Saturday to Thursday: 7:30am to 9pm
Closed on Fridays

Interested?

View the terms & conditions for travel from Bahrain
View the terms & conditions for travel from Iraq
View the terms & conditions for travel from Jordan
View the terms & conditions for travel from KSA
View the terms & conditions for travel from Kuwait
View the terms & conditions for travel from Lebanon
View the terms & conditions for travel from Oman
View the terms & conditions for travel from Qatar
*Terms and conditions apply. There were no Ramadhan offers displayed on the UAE and Iran web pages for Qatar Airways nor on the pages for Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh or Pakistan. 

Oman announces Ramadhan working hours

The Omani government has announced that the official working hours during Ramadhan 1436 (from 18 June) for ministries and public sector organisations will be from 9am to 2pm. Muslims in the private sector will work six hours per day and 30 hours per week, according to a ministerial decision.

The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) separately announced that the US Embassy in Oman will be open during Ramadhan for American Citizens Services by appointment only, between 11am and 12 noon on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and between 8am and 10am on Tuesdays. Appointments are available online and may be accessed here.

When visiting the embassy, the OSAC states that American citizens should bring two forms of government-issued identification with photographs, as one must be left with the security guards while inside the building. Non-immigrant visa services during Ramadhan are available from 8am to 10:30am on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.