Eid-ul-Fitr 2020: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar announce Eid on Sunday

As Muslims in Gulf countries finish Ramadan fasting of 29 days on Friday, all eyes will be set upon the sky to look for the crescent moon which would confirm Eid-ul-Fitr on Saturday. 

Since the Islamic calendar has either 29 or 30 days, Eid in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, will be celebrated on Sunday if the crescent moon of the month of Shawwal is not sighted on Friday. 

Muslims in Gulf countries have been observing fast since April 24, after the Ramadan moon was sighted on April 23. Friday is the 29th day of Ramadan in the region. 

According to a report in the Gulf News, the UAE government has set up a moon-sighting committee. The committee will hold a virtual meeting under the chairmanship of UAE's Justice Minister in the evening. 

Meanwhile, Saudi Gazette reported that astronomers at the observatory of Majmaah University near Riyadh in Saudi Arabia on Thursday confirmed that the crescent moon of Shawwal is unlikely to be sighted on Friday, Ramadan 29.

"According to the scientific calculations that were published on the astronomical observatory site that sun will set at 6.39 pm at 293 degrees, and the moon will set at 6.26 pm Friday, Ramadan 29, and this means the moon will set 13 minutes before the sunset," observatory sources were cited as saying in the report. 

Here are the live updates on moon sighting:

>>> Saudi Arabia has announced that Saturday, May 23, 2020 will be the last day of Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on May 24, Sunday

>>> Indonesia and Malaysia officially confirmed Sunday (May 24) the day of Eid-ul-Fitr after 30 days of Ramadan

>>> Shawwal moon was not sighted in Turkey on Friday after which the country announced that Eid will be celebrated on May 24, Sunday

>>> Moon-sighting committee in UAE to meet soon to announce first day of the month of Shawwal and Eid Al Fitr.

>>> Moon not sighted in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore, Eid-ul-Fitr to be celebrated on May 24 as the moon is not sighted in these countries.

>>> Moon not sighted in Kerala and Karnataka coast, Muslims in this part of India to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Sunday

Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, after the end of 29 or 30 days of Ramadan (also spelt as Ramzan). Since the Islamic calendar follows the moon, the months depend on its sighting. 

Fasting in Arab countries begins one day before in India, except in the coastal regions of Kerala and Karnataka where the moon can be sighted one day before the rest of the country. 

While Ramadan began on April 24 in Arab countries, Muslims in most parts of India have been observing the fast since April 25. 

Indians will try to spot the moon on Saturday and if sighted, Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Sunday. Otherwise Eid-ul-Fitr 2020 will be celebrated on Monday, May 25 after fasting of days.