Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Egypt Independent
Published on 2024-04-07 10:53:33
The National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) has announced that Tuesday, April 9 will mark the final day of Ramadan, and Wednesday, April 10 will be the first day of Eid al-Fitr. Taha Rabeh, the head of NRIAG, explained that according to astronomical calculations, the new crescent will not appear after sunset in the city of Cairo and most Arab and Islamic capitals on Monday. He further elaborated that the moon in the old crescent phase sets 12 minutes before sunset in Mecca, 10 minutes in Cairo, and in the rest of Egypt in periods ranging between 10 and 11 minutes. In Arab cities, the set time ranges between two and 20 minutes.
As Egypt readies for Eid, executive and local authorities, as well as supply and internal trade directorates across the country, have intensified their procedures to welcome the holiday. The Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade has announced the regular operation of municipal bakeries during their scheduled working hours, ensuring the availability of subsidized local bread sold to citizens according to specified weights and prices. Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, Ali al-Moselhy, confirmed the establishment of a central operations room in the ministry to monitor the availability of goods, as well as daily assessment of the provision of goods and the general commodity situation. Additionally, the prices of herring and fesikh – popular dishes after Ramadan – have increased by approximately 50 percent, while citizen interest in buying these items has decreased by 40 percent compared to the previous year.
In anticipation of Eid, tourism has been on the rise in several governorates. Hotels have reported occupancy rates of 100 percent from both domestic and foreign tourists, with many hotels ranging between 80-90 percent occupancy. Abdel-Wahab Mohamed, the Director General of the Office of the Ministry of Tourism in Alexandria, announced that tourist occupancy rates in Alexandria and Matrouh hotels have surpassed 90 percent.
Overall, Egypt is gearing up for Eid al-Fitr with preparations in full swing across various sectors. From monitoring the crescent moon to ensuring the availability of goods, the country is embracing the festive spirit and welcoming tourists with open arms. As the holiday approaches, the anticipation and excitement are palpable, setting the stage for a joyous and prosperous Eid celebration.
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