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Rabat – Saudi Arabia is expected to announce Thursday, March 23 as the first day of Ramadan 2023, according to Arabian Business.
The new outlet stressed that Saudi Arabia is yet to confirm the official date of this year’s Ramadan following the crescent moon sighting.
Some reports have suggested that Saudi Arabia announced that the crescent moon sighting in the Gulf country will take place on March 22.
Ramadan’s date differs annually based on the islamic calendar. The month of Ramadan is the night on the calendar, when Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset for 23 to 30 days, depending on the crescent moon sighting.
Like many Arab countries, Saudi Arabia also announces reduced working hours during Ramadan.
Astronomy centers in Arab countries, including in the Gulf countries, have unanimously predicted March 23 as the first day of Ramadan.
Ibrahim Al Jarwan, the president of the UAE’s Astronomical Society board of directors, told the National, the leading Emirati English-language newspaper, that “most of the Islamic and Arab countries” will celebrate the first day of Ramadan together.
“But the last day of Ramadan might be different in some countries as it will be difficult in some areas to observe the moon,” he added, forecasting Eid Al Fitr to fall on April 21 in the UAE.
Astronomers in Morocco have also predicted March 23 to be the first day of this year’s Ramadan in the North African kingdom.
