Free buses to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque for holy month

ABU DHABI // Free shuttle buses will take Muslims from across Abu Dhabi to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque every evening during Ramadan.

Throughout the holy month, expected to start on Friday or Saturday, the Department of Transport will run nine routes - three from Abu Dhabi city and six from the suburbs.

The services will operate daily between 5pm and 10pm.

The city routes will run between the marina and Maqta, and between Umm Al Nar, the Municipality and the Tourist Club. The suburban services are from Shahama, Workers Village in Mussaffah, Industrial City of Abu Dhabi, Mussaffah bus station, Baniyas West Bus Station and Al Mafraq Workers' City.

There will also be 2,500 free parking spaces every evening at Zayed Sports City, with a free shuttle bus from there to the mosque.

The service will run until 10pm for the first part of Ramadan, then until 4am, or qiyam [night prayers], for the last 10 days of the month.

One of the last 10 nights of Ramadan is Lailat Al Qadr, the night of forgiveness and answered prayers. Last year, 37,000 people flocked to the grand mosque on that night.

Free iftar will be available at 12 air-conditioned tents, each housing 1,500 people. It is open to all, Muslims and non-Muslims.

rruiz@thenational.ae