Ramadan 2021: UAE moon sighting committee to meet on Monday

The moon sighting committee in the UAE will meet virtually on Monday, April 12, after the maghrib prayer to indicate the start of Ramadan.

The Shariah courts nationwide will follow up and inform the committee of any sightings, while the lunar calendar committee at the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department will continue collecting evidence and inform the moon sighting committee with the findings, official news agency WAM reported.

If the committee, chaired by the UAE’s Minister of Justice Sultan bin Saeed Al Badi Al Dhaheri see the moon, Ramadan will begin on Tuesday, April 13.

In Saudi Arabia, the Supreme Court said that the crescent had not been sighted on Sunday evening.

“Following its announcement, requesting the public to sight the crescent of the month of Ramadan, the Supreme Court held a meeting on Sunday evening, the 29th of the month of Shaaban, in accordance with the Umm Al-Qura calendar. But it has received no report confirming the seeing of the crescent,” a statement on the Saudi Press Agency said.

Accordingly, the court will hold a session on Monday evening to issue a decision regarding the start of Ramadan, it added.

Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, is a time when Muslims across the world fast from sunrise to sunset.

The UAE has already announced reduced working hours for public and private sector workers in the country during the holy month.

Read: Ramadan 2021: Timings for UAE private sector employees announced

Both Dubai and Abu Dhabi have outlined safety measures to be observed during Ramadan to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Authorities in country have advised against gatherings among families living in different homes during Ramadan and instead encouraged virtual meetings.

They have also stressed that inspections will be conducted to ensure strict adherence to precautionary guidelines during Ramadan, with violators facing stiff penalties.

Read: Ramadan 2021: Dubai announces guidelines for praying in mosques