Gulf countries restrict outdoor Eid prayers amid regional war tensions
Several Gulf countries, including Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, on Friday restricted Eid al-Fitr prayers to mosques, suspending large outdoor gatherings amid heightened tensions linked to the ongoing conflict.
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates said worshippers should avoid traditional open-air prayer grounds, where large crowds typically gather, "as a precautionary measure", as governments reassess public safety.
Worshippers attend prayers for Eid al-Fitr at Sheikh Abdul-Qadir al-Jilani Shrine in Baghdad on 20 March 2026. AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP