Dubai urges use of smart apps to order Eid sacrifices

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – (AFP)

Veterinarians are called in to inspect the sheep at an abattoir ahead of one of Islam’s major holidays in Dubai, where the municipality is encouraging residents to use smart apps to order the sacrificial animals.

Muslims during Eid Al Adha, which falls in July this year to mark the end of the hajj pilgrimage season, traditionally buy a whole sheep to be slaughtered and distributed among friends, family and the poor.

Demand, however, is all-year round in the Muslim emirate, with mask-clad workers at the abattoir in Al Qouz industrial area — one of many in Dubai — seen slicing and cleaning the meat for delivery or pick-up.

To avoid overcrowding at the facility during the Eid, Dubai officials have urged people to use smart apps to make their orders, as the emirate witnesses a new wave of coronavirus infections.

Through the apps, residents can put in their orders for slaughter, have it delivered or even distributed to local charities.

While such apps are not widely available in Muslim countries, they have been used in some countries such as Pakistan.

The UAE warned earlier this month that people must follow its anti-Covid measures including wearing masks indoors or face heavy fines, after cases more than doubled in a week.

Muslims mark Eid by buying sheep and goats to kill in the annual ritual that stems from the story of the prophet Abraham, commanded by God to slaughter his beloved son Ishmael as a test of his faith.