UAE Muslims hold rain prayers

11/24/2004 6:56:00 AM GMT

Source: BBC

The United Arab Emirates Muslims held special rain prayers after an appeal by the country's president.


Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan was among other Muslim sheikhs who led the Muslims in the prayers across the country.

The water supply in UAE failed to meet the demand in recent years and the country has the highest per capita consumption in the world.

The need for rain in UAE has never been greater than this period, which made the country Muslims hold those special prayers for rain, dating back to the noble Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

As it is provided free of charge to citizens, there is no incentive for Emirati nationals to save water.

The UAE has been asked to try to develop alternative water sources other than ground water it uses.

The gradual greening of the desert country is what made the water demand increase.

Palm trees, golf courses covered in lush green grass and oases extended for agriculture all that helped in increasing the demand for water.

Also huge construction sites in or near the big cities contributed to the increasing demand for water.

Rainfall during the past few years has been below the seasonal average, and thus groundwater has not been replenished.

Increasing demand for water and low rainfall explains why the UAE has become the world's largest producer of desalinated water.

Forecasters in the UAE expects the temperature to drop within the next few days, yet they see a fat chance for rainfall.

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