UAE’s moon-sighting committee to meet on Monday

The UAE has set up a moon-sighting committee to detect the beginning of the month of Shawwal, which will mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan and start of Eid al-Fitr, official news agency WAM reported.

The committee will be chaired by Justice minister Sultan bin Saeed Al Badi Al Dhaheri and include other senior officials as its members.

They will meet after Maghrib prayer on Monday, June 3, (29th Ramadan) at the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, the report said.

All Sharia courts across the country were also urged to look out for the crescent moon and inform the committee of any sightings.

According to an astronomer, the first day of Eid Al Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, is expected fall on Wednesday, June 5 in the UAE.

Ramadan is expected to be 30 days long this year, Ibrahim Al Jarwan, general supervisor at Sharjah Planetarium, told local media.

The sighting of the crescent marks the end of Ramadan – when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.

The UAE has already announced a week-long break for public sector employees in the country to mark Eid Al Fitr.

Meanwhile, private sector employees will have four days off for Eid Al Fitr this year, according to a circular from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.

They will be off from Monday, June 3 (Ramadan 29) until Shawwal 3 – which will either fall on Thursday, June 6, or Friday, June 7, depending on the sighting of the moon.

Work will resume on 4th of Shawwal.

Read: UAE announces Eid Al Fitr holiday dates for public and private sectors