Saudi Arabia, UAE observes first fast today as Ramadan moon sighted

Saudi Arabia and its gulf neighbours including the UAE on Friday announced sighting the crescent of the new lunar month marking the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.

Following the sighting of the crescent moon on Friday evening, the holy month of Ramadan, will begin on March 1 (Saturday), the Saudi Supreme Court announced.  

Saudi Arabia was joined by the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in declaring the sighting of the crescent moon that heralds Ramadan.

Several Muslim countries declare Ramadan in line with the announcement in Saudi Arabia.

The UAE, Qatar, Oman, Jordan and Syria also said Ramadan would start on Saturday, reported AFP.

Iraq's top cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, meanwhile announced that the holy month would begin on Sunday.

The Muslim world welcomes Ramadan with religious zeal and fervour. Over a billion believers will fast during the month to practice patience and self-control while also promoting charity and welfare.

The Islamic months last 29 or 30 days and the beginning or end of a month depends on the appearance of crescent, so Ramadan is not set on any specific day annually.

The month of Ramadan is the ninth of the 12 months of the Islamic calendar. Despite having as many months as the Gregorian calendar, the Islamic calendar is nearly 10 days shorter due to being based on the lunar orbit.

This is why Ramadan falls at a different time every year according to the Gregorian calendar.