File Photo: An undated image of a person praying while seeing the moon. AFP
Eid Al-Fitr, one of Islam’s two major festivals alongside Eid Al-Adha, falls on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, marking the end of Ramadan. Muslims worldwide observe the occasion after a month of fasting from dawn to dusk.
Saudi Arabia’s Royal Court confirmed that the crescent moon was sighted on Saturday at the Sudair and Tamir observatories, according to Al-Arabiya.
The UAE and Qatar also announced that Sunday will be the first day of Eid.
Later on, Yemen, Kuwait, Palestine, Lebanon, Sudan and Bahrein said that Eid Al-Fitr will begin on Sunday.
Oman, where the Ibadi sect is dominant, has declared that Eid will begin on Monday, 31 March.
Unlike Sunni and Shia traditions, Ibadi Islam follows a stricter approach to moon sighting, often requiring greater certainty before declaring the start of a new lunar month. This difference occasionally results in Oman marking Islamic holidays on a different day than its neighbours.
Iraq, Syria and Jordan also announced that Eid will begin Monday.
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