The three-day Islamic holiday Eid El-Fitr will start in Egypt on Monday 2 May, Dar El-Iftaa – the main authority responsible for issuing religious edicts in Egypt – has announced as Shawwal moon was not sighted.

As per the announcement, Sunday 1 May will be the 30th and last day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Muslims will be able to perform Eid Al-Fitr prayers of the Islamic year 1443 in the early morning on Monday at 5:36am in Cairo, according to astronomical calculations, with slight differences in time in other governorates.

Arab and Islamic countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, and Iraq, also declared Monday the first day of Eid El-Fitr.

The announcements in these countries come in line with astronomical calculations that expected Eid El-Fitr to start on Monday in most Islamic countries.

Egypt’s Ministry of Religious Endowments allocated on Saturday 600 outdoor spaces at large mosques nationwide for the millions of worshippers who are expected to partake in the Eid El-Fitr prayers, ending a ban on outdoor Eid prayers - in place since the start of the pandemic in 2020.

Egyptians have traditionally performed Eid prayers, which are held after sunrise on the first day of the religious feast, in open spaces due to the large mass of worshippers.

In a statement on Friday, the endowments ministry said that mosques across the country will be allowed to open their doors for congregants at least 30 minutes before the prayers to utter the Takbeerat — a set of religious supplications chanted ahead of  Eid Prayers.

Areas designated for women in large mosques nationwide will be open as well, the ministry stressed.

“Children will be allowed [this year] to attend the prayer to bring cheer and joy to them,” the ministry added.

Egypt's cabinet has designated the period between 30 April and 5 May a paid holiday for public employees, extending from Labour Day, which falls on 1 May, to the end of Eid El-Fitr holidays.

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