Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar Declare Wednesday as First Day of Ramadan

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar announced that Wednesday will mark the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, following the confirmed sighting of the Ramadan crescent moon on Tuesday evening.

Authorities in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar separately confirmed the start of the fasting month, with official statements issued by their respective religious and astronomical bodies.

In contrast, Jordan announced that the crescent moon was not sighted, declaring that Thursday will be the first day of Ramadan in the kingdom.

Several Asian countries also reported unsuccessful moon sightings on Tuesday. Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Japan announced that Thursday, February 19, will be the first day of Ramadan, according to information released by the International Astronomical Center, citing the inability to confirm the moon sighting.

Meanwhile, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Iran stated that Tuesday corresponds to the 28th of Sha’ban. Authorities in those countries said the official start of Ramadan will be determined following moon sighting efforts scheduled for Wednesday evening, meaning Ramadan could begin on either Thursday or Friday.

The variation in start dates reflects differing moon sighting methods and religious rulings across the Muslim world, a common occurrence at the beginning of the holy month.