Eid Al Fitr 2023 likely to start on April 22 in UAE

The first day of Eid Al Fitr 2023 in most Islamic countries is expected to fall on Saturday April 22, according to the International Astronomical Centre. However, the actual dates are to be announced closer to the day, confirmed after the moon has been sighted.

“Seeing the crescent on Thursday is not possible with a telescope in most countries of the Arab and Islamic world, except for parts of West Africa starting from Libya, but seeing remains very difficult and requires a precise telescope, professional monitoring and exceptional weather conditions, the meeting of these factors is rare,” the International Astronomical Centre said in a Facebook post on Sunday.

The centre does not expect the sighting of the crescent from anywhere in the Arab world on Thursday unless the circumstances are mentioned.

هل العيد الجمعة أم السبت؟

المختصر حول موعد عيد الفطر 1444 هـ

ستتحرى دول العالم الإسلامي هلال شهر شوال (عيد الفطر 1444 هـ) يوم الخميس 20 إبريل/نيسان 2023م.

رؤية الهلال يوم الخميس غير ممكنة بالعين المجردة من أي مكان في العالم العربي والإسلامي.

رؤية الهلال يوم الخميس غير ممكنة… pic.twitter.com/lpb6kjntoK

— مركز الفلك الدولي (@AstronomyCenter) April 16, 2023

The centre said in such circumstances, most Islamic countries might announce the start of the month on the next day and many countries are expected to announce Saturday, April 22, as the first day of Eid Al Fitr.

However, the astronomical body said Eid could be announced on different days, depending on where you live. This means Eid al Fitr in the UAE could start on Friday or Saturday but it will only be confirmed after Thursday’s moon-sighting committee meeting.

“Note that the criteria adopted for the beginning of the month in the Islamic world are multiple, and the sighting of the crescent may depend on non-local places,” the body added.

Eid Al Fitr holiday

Meanwhile, with around four days remaining for the holy month of Ramadan, UAE residents have already started planning for the holiday, as the long weekend is expected from Thursday, April 20 to Sunday, April 23.

Read: UAE announces Eid Al Fitr holidays for public, private sectors

Qatar announced over the weekend that some employees in the country will get 11 days of Eid Al Fitr holiday from April 19 to 29. The Ruler’s Court said the holiday applies to all ministries, government entities, and public institutions.

However, the Qatar Central Bank is expected to decide the beginning and end dates for the holiday for the central bank, financial institutions and banks that operate in the Gulf state.

Last week, Kuwait’s cabinet said that the Eid Al Fitr holiday at all ministries, governmental bodies and institutions will run from April 21 to 25.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development said that the public holidays would officially begin on Friday, April 21, which is already a weekend. The ministry said that private and non-profit sectors would have four days of holiday on top of the weekend after the end of work on Thursday. Work is expected to resume on April 29 while schools reopen on 30 April.

Eid Al Fitr is a public holiday that begins at the end of the Holy month of Ramadan.

Read: Eid Al Fitr 2023: Saudi Arabia announces 4-day holiday for private sector, non-profits