Ramadan will begin in the UAE on Saturday, authorities announced on Friday.
The moon-sighting committee met at the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department and confirmed the presence of the crescent moon, state news agency Wam reported.
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Egypt and Yemen also spotted the crescent moon after the maghrib prayer, heralding the start of the holy month tomorrow.
Ramadan will begin in Oman on Sunday, however, after a moon-sighting committee did not spot the crescent, the Oman News Agency reported.
Sunday will also be the start of the holy month in Jordan and Indonesia.
The UAE's leaders extended their greetings to all observing the holy month. The President, Sheikh Khalifa, wished good health and prosperity to the people and leaders of all Arab and Islamic countries.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, sent similar messages.
“Ramadan Mubarak to the people of the UAE and all who are observing the holy month around the world,” said Sheikh Mohamed. “We solemnly pray that God continues to bestow his blessings and mercy on our beloved country and people everywhere.”
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman also congratulated Muslims in the kingdom and all over the world.
In a message carried by Saudi Press Agency, the monarch expressed his happiness that the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah were back to full capacity after Covid-19 precautionary measures were lifted.
Ramadan is observed by more than 1.8 billion Muslims around the world and is believed to be the month when the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed.
Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset every day of the month, which is typically 29 or 30 days.
Fasting during the holy month is one of the five pillars of Islam and is mandatory for all Muslims who are in good health.
Moon-sighting attempts were held across the UAE but not all manage to spot the crescent.
Nezar Sallam, head of the Emirates Astronomical Observatory, said it was nearly impossible to see the crescent at the observatory at Al Shahama in Abu Dhabi on Friday because of adverse weather and the angle of the moon.
“The Moon is there but it is too low,” said Mr Sallam.
Mr Sallam, 43, who also tries to verify the beginning of Eid, said his love for astronomy began with his first pair of plastic binoculars when he was 9.
“This is my passion,” he said, examining a telescope. “I couldn’t see the Moon but maybe someone else will be lucky.”
Ultimately, it is the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department that makes the decision after collecting all the reports from across the country.
Eid Al Fitr and the first of Shawwal — the 10th month in the Islamic calendar — is set to be on May 2, but will be confirmed closer to the time.
Preparations for Ramadan 2022 - in pictures
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SPECS
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Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
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With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
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GULF MEN'S LEAGUE
Pool A Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Exiles, Dubai Tigers 2
Pool B Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jebel Ali Dragons, Dubai Knights Eagles, Dubai Tigers
Opening fixtures
Thursday, December 5
6.40pm, Pitch 8, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Knights Eagles
7pm, Pitch 2, Jebel Ali Dragons v Dubai Tigers
7pm, Pitch 4, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Exiles
7pm, Pitch 5, Bahrain v Dubai Eagles 2
Recent winners
2018 Dubai Hurricanes
2017 Dubai Exiles
2016 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2015 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2014 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Company profile
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Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Sweet%20Tooth
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Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier
Results
UAE beat Saudi Arabia by 12 runs
Kuwait beat Iran by eight wickets
Oman beat Maldives by 10 wickets
Bahrain beat Qatar by six wickets
Semi-finals
UAE v Qatar
Bahrain v Kuwait