The UK is set to leave the EU at 23:00 GMT on Friday, ending its 47-year membership, and enter a transition period.

Iran Press/Europe: After more than three years of political wrangling, the departure of two prime ministers, and dozens of furious protests across the United Kingdom, Brexit is finally happening.

At 23:00 GMT on Friday, January 31, the UK will officially end its 47-year membership of the European Union - becoming the first country ever to leave the bloc, and enter a transition period scheduled to end on December 31, 2020, Al-Jazeera reported.

Friday's breaking of the ranks does not signal the end of Brexit, but the start of a new, potentially tumultuous chapter in the saga, leaving the UK just 11 months to negotiate a deal to be agreed by all 27 remaining EU states.

This week saw the final debate over the UK's departure from the EU take place in Brussels.

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