UAE sets up moon sighting committee to confirm start of Eid

The UAE’s minister of Justice Sultan bin Saeed Al Badi has issued a decision to set up a moon-sighting committee to confirm the start of the month of Shawwal, official news agency WAM reported.

The start of the Shawwal will mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the first day of Eid Al Fitr.

The committee is chaired by the minister of Justice and includes Mohammed bin Hamad Al Badi, president of the UAE Federal Supreme Court, along with other officials.

Members will meet to sight the crescent moon on Saturday, June 24, after Maghrib prayer, at the Judicial Department in Abu Dhabi, the report stated.

The decision also called on all Sharia courts across the country to look out for the crescent moon and inform the committee.

The UAE has already announced that private sector workers in the country will receive two days off to mark Eid Al Fitr.

Read more: UAE private sector workers to get two days off for Eid Al Fitr

Meanwhile federal ministries and authorities will be off from Saturday, June 24.

Read: UAE government says Eid Al Fitr holiday to begin on June 24

If Eid falls on Sunday, June 25, government workers will return on Wednesday, June 28.

Should the holiday fall on Monday, June 26, then government workers will not return until Sunday, July 2.