The end of Ramadan could be marked by about a week off work for many people.
The holy month is fast approaching, with the first day expected to fall on Saturday, April 2.
It will last for either 29 or 30 days, depending when the new moon is sighted, as the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle.
The task of spotting it falls to the moon-sighting committee — a group of astronomers, court officials and advisers from the country's Islamic authority — which call the start and the end of the holy month after seeing the new crescent.
The end of Ramadan will be marked by a holiday for both the public and private sectors, which starts on the 29th day of Ramadan and lasts until the third day of Shawwal, the 10th month.
That means the holiday will probably begin on Sunday May 1 and end on Wednesday, May 4, if Ramadan is 29 days, giving many people a five-day break.
But it could extend to Thursday, May 5, stretching to six days, if Ramadan lasts 30 days.
The first week of Ramadan coincides with the second week of the spring school holidays, between the second and third terms. Once schools reopen, their operating hours will be reduced — probably to no more than six hours a day during the remainder of the month.
Ramadan will occur during the tourist season again and restaurants are expected to be able to serve diners without curtains or dividers.
Many bars continue to serve liquor, as long as patrons are respectful and entertainment is kept to a minimum.
