Eid Al Fitr in Oman: A week-long holiday awaits
The moon will be visible on the horizon for just five minutes, depending on the observer’s location in Oman
The first day of Eid Al Fitr in Oman is likely to fall on Monday, March 31, as predicted by astronomers.
As a result, the Eid holidays in Oman are expected to begin on Sunday, March 30, and last until Thursday, April 3, giving citizens and residents a five-day break, a report in the Oman Observer said.
However, the holidays may be extended further since Friday (April 4) and Saturday (April 5) are weekend days, creating a nine-day break starting from the pre-Eid weekend.
If the first day of Eid Al Fitr falls on Monday (March 31), it will be due to the 29th of Ramadan, which corresponds to March 29. On this day, the sun will set at 6:21 pm, and the moon will set at 6:26 pm, making it nearly impossible to see the moon, according to Abdulwahab Al Busaidy, head of the observatory at the Oman Astronomical Society.
Al Busaidy also explained that the moon will be visible on the horizon for just five minutes, depending on the observer’s location in Oman.
The moon will be positioned only two degrees above the horizon, with an illumination of 0.04%. Therefore, it is less likely to be sighted in countries like Oman, which rely on moon sightings to declare Eid.
For countries that depend on the birth of a new moon, Al Busaidy mentioned that they might be fasting for only 29 days, and their first day of Eid Al Fitr will be on March 30.
The UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has announced that Sunday, March 30, to Tuesday, April 1, will be a paid holiday for all private sector employees across the country to mark the festival of Eid Al Fitr. The ministry also stated that if Ramadan concludes on the 30th day, the holiday will be extended to Wednesday, April 2.
Eid Al Fitr holidays for federal government employees in the UAE will be observed from the 1st to the 3rd of Shawwal 1446 AH, with official work resuming on the 4th of Shawwal.
The 30th of Ramadan will be recognized as an additional public holiday if the Holy Month of Ramadan concludes with 30 days, thus extending the Eid Al Fitr break.
