If you're new to the UAE, you've probably wondered why cannons fire over Ramadan.

The Ramadan Cannon fires everyday by sunset, few seconds before the Maghreb Adan; the 4th call for prayers that goes off by sunset.

This notifies Muslims to break the fast.. TIME FOR IFTAR!

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But how did firing cannons became an iconic symbol of Ramadan from the first place? Here's the interesting story behind it!

Cairo; the capital of Egypt was the first city to launch the Ramadan cannon.

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At sunset on the first day of Ramadan in the year 865, the Mamluk Sultan wanted to test a new cannon of his. The canon happened to fire by sunset! People assumed its the new way to notify the time of breaking the fast and they liked the idea. That's when the sultan decided to purposely fire the cannon everyday by sunset!

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Since then it became the iconic symbol of Ramadan that millions of Muslims wait to hear everyday in order to break their fast.

Ramadan Cannons will be fired from six places this year in Dubai; Deira prayer grounds, Al Karama Prayer ground, Zayed Bin Mohammad Centre in Al Mizhar, Mina Al Salam in Jumeirah, Burj Khalifa and City Walk.