Ramadan iftar cannon tradition continues across Cairo and Arab cities

Cairo, March 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The firing of the Ramadan iftar cannon remains a longstanding tradition in Cairo and several Arab cities, marking the moment of sunset and the start of the evening meal during the holy month.

As sunset approaches during Ramadan evenings, many Egyptian households await the sound of the cannon, a signal that has long been associated with the call to break the fast and with the atmosphere of Ramadan nights.

The cannon is typically fired at the same time as the Maghrib call to prayer, creating a moment that blends spiritual observance with cultural heritage.

The practice continues today in Cairo and in several cities across the Gulf, the Levant and North Africa, where authorities organize the daily firing during Ramadan to signal the time of iftar, while in some locations it is also used before the dawn call to prayer to indicate the start of fasting.

In Egypt, the announcement “The iftar cannon from Cairo” was historically broadcast on radio and television shortly before the cannon was fired, synchronizing with the Maghrib call to prayer.

The tradition is believed to date back to the Mamluk era in Cairo, when a cannon was accidentally fired at sunset during a military test. Residents interpreted the sound as a signal to break their fast, and the practice later became a daily Ramadan tradition that spread to other Arab cities.

Today, the firing of the cannon often takes place at historic landmarks such as the Citadel of Saladin in Cairo, where residents and visitors gather before sunset to witness the moment and take photographs.