Kuwaiti Astronomer Predicts Beginning of Ramadan

DUBAI - A Kuwaiti astronomer has predicted Ramadan will start on August 1 and Eid, the feast that follows the month of fasting will be on August 30, local daily Gulf News reported on Wednesday.

However, most of the Muslim countries decide the lunar month upon sighting the crescent and not on calculations based on astronomy, the paper reported.

"Shaaban, the month that precedes Ramadan, will last 30 days and will end on Sunday July 31. So, Ramadan will start on Monday, August 1. It will last 29 days and will end also on Monday, August 29. We will have Eid on Tuesday August 30," a Kuwaiti newspaper quoted Adel Al Marzouq as saying, Gulf News reported.

During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food, drink and sensual pleasures from sunrise to sunset and focus on their relationship with God, the report said.

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All That Glitters Is Gold at Gold Souk Dubai

It's not yet the tourist season - or even the wedding season - but the Gold Souk is still bustling with bargain hunters.

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How To Manage Speed on UAE Roads

Adam Kechil, a Dubai-based expert in road safety and former driving examiner, steers us in the right directionf a vehicle crashes at a high speed, the occupants are unlikely to survive. Here are some tips to help drivers manage their speed.

1. Check the speedometer regularly

Modern cars on UAE roads are so powerful and comfortable that they give drivers little sensation of the speed at which they are driving. The result is that many drivers find themselves exceeding the speed limit without realising it.

This is especially true when, for instance, you are driving at 100kph on the highway and abruptly enter a section where you have to reduce your speed to 40kph or 50kph. It may appear that you are moving at snail's pace. But the truth is that 40kph or 50kph is still quite fast and a pedestrian could well lose his or her life if hit at that speed. Also, if the occupants are not using seat belts, it could result in serious injuries, even fatalities.

2. Know the speed limits - don't guess

Many drivers who get speeding tickets complain that they did not know what the speed limits of that particular area were.

3. The speed limit is a maximum, not a target

Speed limits are set as a maximum for particular roads, but circumstances may dictate that it is not safe to drive at that speed when children are playing near or on the road, the road is busy or narrow, parked vehicles have reduced the width of the road, the weather is poor or there are roadworks.

4. Identify what makes you speed

There are many reasons people drive fast, for example, to keep up with other drivers who are speeding, in reaction to a car tailgating them, or listening to loud music. Learning what the ‘trigger' is that makes you speed will make it easier to avoid being pressured into speeding.

5. Give yourself time to reach your destination

Going faster than the speed limit does not mean you will get where you are going sooner. The time it takes to complete a journey is determined by the average speed during the whole journey, rather than the maximum speed achieved during part of it. The faster you drive, the sharper you have to brake, which increases fuel consumption and wear and tear. Result: more expenses.

6. If you must race, do so on a racetrack

If you wish to test your driving skills and at what speed you feel comfortable, try Dubai Autodrome, a place designed for competition. But here again, they will stress the importance of safety and wearing seatbelts!

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