RIYADH, 4 December 2002 — The Riyadh governorate, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and a number of private sector companies, including hotels and restaurants, have made elaborate arrangements for celebrating Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan fasting. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has announced that Eid prayers will be held on 20 Eid grounds and in 331 mosques in and around the city. The ministry has also readied a number of alternative sites in case of rain.
Abdullah ibn Mufleh Al-Hamed, director of Endowments and Mosques Affairs at the ministry, said the Eid prayers will be held at 6.45 a.m. in Riyadh, 22 minutes after sunrise in the region, either on Thursday or Friday, depending on the sighting of the new moon.
Al-Hamed said the main prayer venue will be the Imam Turki Mosque in Qasr Al-Hukm district. Other designated sites are: King Faisal road, Malaz, Shifa, Aisha Street, Al-Quriyan district (Suwaidi west), Masali (south of Riyadh), West Manfouha, Hijaz Road in Fawaz district; Eid ground near Dar Al-Baida, Rabwa, Arka, Diriya suburb, Al-Ammar suburb, Al-Hair suburb, Hazrat Al-Laba’an, Aiyania area and the prayer ground at Jabiliya.
Al-Hamed said Eid prayers will be held in at least 34 mosques in central Riyadh; 12 mosques in Industrial Zone and Azizia; 10 mosques in Al-Shifa, Shallan and Fawaz districts; 11 mosques in Shubra, Swaidi and Al-Baida, nine mosques in Nasseriya, Al-Mather, Sharfia and Fakaria; 31 mosques in Olaya, Sulaimania, Tawoon and Shahafa; and 11 mosques in King Fahd area, Urooj and Marooj. Eid congregations will also be held in several other mosques located on the outskirts of Riyadh.
Riyadh police have made elaborate security arrangements in and around the capital. The police department has deputed some 250 mobile patrol teams, 400 motorbikes and 350 additional personnel to streamline traffic and to prevent any ugly scenes during the Eid holidays.
The Riyadh Municipality, on the other hand, has announced that it will distribute 100,000 gift packets of sweets, soft drinks and toys among children on the occasion. The Riyadh Development Authority and the King Abdul Aziz Historical Center have plans to hold special events to mark the Eid. Entertainment programs such as poetry sessions, fireworks, stunt shows and paragliding have been lined up. The stunt shows will be staged at Al-Malaz Stadium.
A random check of city supermarkets revealed that camping equipment and picnic accessories are in great demand. “We have had a 50 percent increase in sales of steaks, meat cubes and charcoal briquettes,” said a supermarket supervisor. The supermarkets have also reported a surge in the movement of Arabic sweets and bakery products since last night.
