'Late' Iftar for residents of Burj Khalifa, other Dubai skyscrapers

Residents of skyscrapers have to fast slightly longer than others – up to 6 minutes more before breaking their fast

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday called upon residents of all tall buildings, including Burj Khalifa, to adjust their Iftar (breaking of fast) timings depending on the floor they are living on.

It has become a popular fact in recent years that residents at Dubai's skyscrapers have to fast slightly longer than others, up to 6 minutes more before breaking their fast, according to a report published in Khaleej Times.

The Government of Dubai's Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department issued a circular saying that residents who stay between 60th and 120th floor will fast for four minutes more than others in Dubai.



The time difference at such heights will result in dawn prayers being held 2 minutes earlier than the rest of Dubai, and will delay sunset and evening prayers by another 2 minutes.

The 'anomaly' is so famous that renowned astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson, even tweeted about it on Sunday as the first day of Ramazan was announced around the world

During Ramadan, daytime fasting for Muslims ends at sunset. But for Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, the Sun sets four minutes later at the top than at the bottom. High-floor dwellers see beyond the ground-level horizon, farther along Earth’s curvature. pic.twitter.com/nQFjtNObJE

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) May 4, 2019

Moreover, the authorities added that people who live on 121st floor and higher, will have to fast 6 minutes more, as the dawn prayer will be 3 minutes earlier, and sunset and evening prayers will be 3 minutes later than normal timings on the ground below.

The article originally appeared in Khaleej Times