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28 March 2024

Eid on Monday or Tuesday? 5-day break in sight for UAE

Published
By Staff

Most countries in the Islamic world will witness the New Moon of Shawwal on Sunday, July 27, according to astronomers.

The first day of Eid Al Fitr, in that case, is likely to be on Monday, July 28, Mohammed Shoukat Al Awdah, head of the Islamic Crescent Observation Project (Icop), has said.

He said in the Arab World, the moon will not be observed on Sunday with the naked eye or the telescope because of its proximity to the horizon.

Al Awadh added that the New Moon can be seen on Sunday using astronomical photography… but, that is still a controversial doctrine for approval.

According to the Sharjah Planetarium, the first day of Eid Al Fitr, first day of Shawwal, is likely to fall on Monday, July 28, 2014.

Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Chief Supervisor of the Sharjah Planetarium, has been quoted as saying that calculations show that Sunday, July 27, will see the formation of the Shawwal moon at 2.42am.

The sun will set at 7.07pm on the day, with the moon setting time will be 7.14pm.

This means that Monday, July 28, will possibly be the first day of Eid Al Fitr (first day of Shawwal).

Icop’s Al Awadh, however, maintains that the moon will be out of sight on Sunday after the sunset in the Arab region, but Eid Al Fitr may still possibly be announced on Monday, July 28, in most countries of the Arab World.

However, for countries that require actual sighting of the crescent, Eid Al Fitr could be announced on Tuesday, July 29.

The beginning of the month of Shawwal, which is the first day of Eid Al Fitr, will astronomically, be on Monday, July 28, he added.

Five-day holiday?

If indeed the first day of Eid Al Fitr is declared on Monday, July 28, in the UAE, authorities may decide to move the holidays by one day to include either the preceding or following weekend with the usual three-day break, giving residents a five-day holiday.

Many UAE residents are planning to go on short trips in and around the country and are awaiting the Ministry’s announcements on the break.

Al Awadh said the crescent will be sighted on Sunday, July 27, in various countries around the world, but it will be impossible to see it in northern Asia and all of Europe and Canada.

He said this is due to the setting of the moon before the sun sets in these areas.

He added the sighting is not possible both visually or using the telescope although the moon sets after sunset in the continent of Asia (excepting the north) and in Australia, North and Central Africa, and most of the United States.

He added the sighting is possible using the telescope from South Africa and Central America.