RIYADH: The Ramazan crescent was sighted in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states on Tuesday evening, confirming that the holy month will begin with the first day of fasting on February 18.
The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia made the official confirmation regarding the beginning of the holy month for the year 1447 AH.
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Kuwait also announced that Ramazan will begin on Wednesday, February 18, following confirmed sightings of the crescent moon. The UAE’s Presidential Court stated that February 18 marks the first day of fasting, after verification by the official moon-sighting committee, Gulf News reported. However, several countries that looked for the Ramazan crescent on Tuesday reported that it was not sighted. The countries reporting no sighting include Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Philippines, Japan, Turkiye, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Brunei. As a result, the month of Shabaan will complete 30 days on February 18, with the first day of fasting observed on February 19. Meanwhile, the moon sighting committees of Pakistan, Iran, India, and Bangladesh are scheduled to meet on Wednesday, February 18, as Tuesday marks the 28th of Shabaan.
