Saudi Arabia, UAE celebrate Eid ul Fitr today as Shawwal moon sighted

• Saudi moon-sighting committee convened to verify sighting.
• ME nations, including Kuwait, Qatar, Iran, confirm sighting.
• Crescent not spotted in Oman, Eid to be celebrated on Monday.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday that the moon for Shawwal had been sighted, and Eid ul Fitr will be celebrated today (March 30), Arab media reported.

According to media reports, the moon-sighting committee convened after Maghrib prayers and verified the sighting of the new moon, marking the end of Ramadan after 29 days of fasting.

An official statement from the Royal Court confirmed that today, Saturday, is the last day of Ramadan, and tomorrow, Sunday, will be celebrated as Eid ul Ftir across the Kingdom. 

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has also announced that Sunday, March 30, 2025, will be the first day of Eid ul Fitr.

Muslims celebrate Eid ul Fitr as the completion of the fasting month of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar.

Similarly, other Middle Eastern countries, including Kuwait, Qatar, and Iran, have also announced sighting of the Shawwal moon and would celebrate Eid today. 

Countries where moon not sighted

Meanwhile, a number of countries officially announced that Eid ul Fitr will fall on Monday, March 31, 2025, as the Shawwal crescent moon was not sighted on Saturday evening. 

Oman has officially announced that the Shawwal moon was not sighted, and Eid ul Fitr will be celebrated on Monday, March 31.

Authorities in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Australia confirmed the date based on astronomical data and local moon sighting efforts.

In Bangladesh, the National Moon Sighting Committee stated that the crescent moon was not sighted, making Sunday the 30th day of Ramadan.

Indonesia also declared Monday as the first day of Eid after failing to observe the Shawwal crescent.

India, where today marks the 28th of Ramadan, expects the moon to be visible on Sunday, thereby celebrating Eid on Monday.

Malaysia’s International Astronomy Centre (IAC) confirmed that the crescent will be visible to the naked eye on Sunday, placing Eid on March 31.

Brunei followed suit, with the IAC also confirming that the moon will be visible there on Sunday.

The Australian Fatwa Council declared Eid Al-Fitr on March 31 as well, noting that the Shawwal moon will be born after sunset on Saturday in both eastern and western parts of the country.