DUBAI – In a bid to avoid long lines before `Eid Al-Adha, the Dubai Municipality has launched a smart app to provideusers a chance to order their Udhiyah online, and be delivered at their doors.

“It is summer season and there is a rush on cattle markets during `Eid. The app is meant to save time and efforts for residents, especially during the season’s hot climate,” Ali Tahir Al Hammadi, head of the Abattoirs Section at DM, exclusively told Khaleej Times.

“We also want to reduce the queues at Dubai Abattoir during `Eid where majority of the residents get their animals slaughtered,” he said.

The new app, Al Mawashi, or livestock in Arabic, allows residents to order small sacrifices online from Emirates Livestock & Meat Trading Company (ELMCO) in Jebel Ali and pick it up at specific delivery points.

“We will have tents at the abattoirs as a waiting point for customers who are coming to pick up their sacrifices,” said Al Hammadi.

Last year, Dubai Abattoir in Al Qusais saw the slaughtering of around 7,000 animals for residents and 7,000 for charities.

Al Hammadi said there has been a 100 per cent increase of animals for charities as organizations signed up for 16,000 to 18,000 animals until now.

The smart app also allows residents to order their Udhiyah at special rates, ranging from Dh550 to Dh700.

“We expect to start with around 300 purchases on the first day of `Eid through the app, reaching up to 1,000 on the fourth day,” said Al Hammadi.

Temporary abattoirs at Al Qusais and Al Khawaneej have also been added.

Muslims celebrate `Eid Al-Adha, or “Feast of Sacrifice” which marks the end of annual hajj.

After special prayers to mark the day, Muslims offer Udhiyah, a ritual that reminds of the great act of sacrifice Prophet Ibrahim and his son Isma`eel were willing to make for the sake of God.

A financially-able Muslim sacrifices a single sheep or goat or shares six others in sacrificing a camel or cow as an act of worship during the four-day `Eid Al-Adha.

The Udhiyah meat should be divided in three equal parts, one each for one’s own family, friends and the poor.

It is permissible that someone in another country could perform the sacrifice on one’s behalf.