Gulf states announce Friday Eid after moon not sighted

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (MNTV) — Saudi Arabia has announced that Eid al-Fitr will begin on Friday after the Shawwal crescent moon was not sighted, a decision quickly followed by several Gulf and regional countries.

Saudi authorities confirmed that their moon-sighting committee found no verified crescent on Wednesday evening, meaning Ramadan will complete 30 days on Thursday, with Eid falling on Friday.

The announcement was echoed by the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, and Yemen, aligning much of the region on a unified date.

Palestine is also expected to observe Eid on Friday, March 20, based on similar moon-sighting conditions and regional alignment, though official confirmation typically depends on local religious authorities.

Astronomical projections had already indicated that sighting the crescent on Wednesday would be highly unlikely, making a full 30-day Ramadan almost certain across most Middle Eastern countries.

However, not all Muslim-majority countries will mark Eid on the same day. Nations such as Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh — which often follow independent moon-sighting processes — are expected to observe Eid a day later, depending on visibility of the crescent on Thursday evening.

While the announcement traditionally signals the start of celebrations, this year’s Eid comes under the shadow of ongoing regional conflict, with Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank expected to mark the occasion amid destruction, displacement, and continued Israeli military actions.