Shawwal moon has been sighted Saudi Arabia on Thursday to mark Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday, April 21, Saudi media reported.
As per the Tumair observatory’s sighting committee, the crescent moon of Shawwal has been spotted, indicating that Ramadan will conclude after only 29 days this year.
According to reports, the sighting of the crescent moon has been confirmed by the Saudi Supreme Court, marking the start of Eid. Celebrations of Eid-ul-Fitr usually occur after the completion of a 29 or 30 day-long Ramadan, depending on when the crescent moon is sighted.
In light of the festivities, the Kingdom’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has declared a four-day paid holiday for private and non-profit sector employees from Friday to Monday, as per Al Arabiya’s news report.
The UAE and Qatar have also stated that Eid will fall on Friday. Muslims use a lunar calendar that consists of 12 months in a year of 354 or 355 days. A four-day paid holiday has been granted to private and non-profit sector employees in Saudi Arabia starting from Friday to Monday.
Similarly, in the UAE, the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday for both federal and private sector workers has been extended until April 23, falling on Shawwal 3.
