DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will look for the Ramadan moon on Tuesday, March 21. The UAE moon sighting committee will meet after sunset to determine the start of the holy month.
All Sharia courts of the UAE will look for the moon tomorrow and inform the committee if they sight the crescent.
The moon-sighting body will meet at the Judicial Department in Abu Dhabi. Minister of Justice Abdullah Sultan, bin Awad Al Nuaimi will chair the meeting, while several high-ranking officials will attend the meeting.
Authorities in Saudi Arabia called on Muslims to look for the crescent of the holy month of Ramadan on Tuesday evening as well.
The appearance of the crescent signals the start of the Islamic month, as is the case with all months in the Islamic calendar.
Ramadan likely to start on Thursday
If the crescent is spotted tomorrow, the holy month of Ramadan will begin on Wednesday, March 22. If not sighted, the month will start on Thursday, March 23. Astronomical calculations suggest that the month is likely to start on Thursday.
Islamic months last for 29 or 30 days, depending on when the moon is sighted.
Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. As per astronomical calculations, it will last for 29 days this year. The first day of Eid-ul-Fitr will likely be Friday, April 21.
