Eidul Fitr celebrated in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar
Eidul Fitr is being celebrated today in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and other Gulf countries, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Mass gatherings for Eid prayers were held at Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina, with officials estimating over two million worshippers in attendance.
The celebration is based on the sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon, which varies by country and tradition.
Kuwait and Bahrain, are also celebrating Eidul Fitr today with great religious enthusiasm.
Neighbouring Oman, as well as Indonesia and Brunei, will observe Eid on Monday. In the United Kingdom, the Muslim community is split, with some observing the festival today while others will celebrate on Monday.
In the United States and Canada, many mosques following pre-determined lunar calendars will hold Eid prayers on Sunday. Others are waiting for confirmed moon sightings before making a final announcement.
Eidul Fitr is one of the most significant festivals in the Islamic calendar, bringing communities together in prayer, charity, and celebration following a month of fasting.
Yesterday, Saudi Arabia and UAE confirmed Sunday as the first day of Eid Al Fitr after the Shawwal crescent was sighted earlier this evening, Arab media reported.
Saudi Arabia's moon-sighting committee convened after Maghrib prayers and verified the sighting of the new moon, marking the end of Ramadan after 29 days of fasting.
The Saudi royal court announced that the first day of Shawwal will be Sunday, March 30, 2025, following the sighting of the crescent moon.
Meanwhile, the UAE's Moon-sighting Committee also announced that Sunday, March 30, 2025, will be the first day of Eidul Fitr.
The minister and committee members extended their warm congratulations to UAE leadership, including President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as well as to the Supreme Council Members, Rulers of the Emirates, and Crown Princes.
They also congratulated the UAE people and Muslims worldwide on this joyous occasion.
Additionally, Kuwait and Qatar have officially declared Sunday, March 30, 2025, as the first day of Eidul Fitr, with Saturday, March 29 marking the last day of Ramadan.
In Pakistan, the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee will hold a moon-sighting meeting on Sunday to confirm the start of Eidul Fitr. The government has already declared three holidays from March 31 to April 2 for the occasion.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Forgotten heroes of the partition
Independence was truly understood by those who paid the cost of freedom and lost their closest family members. They knew that liberty demands sacrifice, and the value of being free is best known to those who shed their blood for their homeland. The story of how Pakistan came into being in 1947 is remembered most vividly by those who lived through those difficult times. The trauma of the partition lives on in the childhood memories of Dr Khawaja Ahmed Abbas, a living legend, an eyewitness and a migrant of 1947. In his book titled Living in Clouds, he recounts the anguish of those times and the hardships witnessed during the post-partition period. The partition displaced 12 to 20 million people, forcing them to leave ancestral lands where they had lived for generations. This migration left deep scars and painful memories tied forever to the soil of their origins. "A beam of morning sunlight coming through a small hole in a broken window was shining on my face. I woke up startled and was surprised to find myself in a lll-class compartment of a passenger train. 'What is this place?' I murmured to myself, still sleepy. 'Where are we? Why are we not in our house?' The compartment was crowded with a lot of other people. I shouted for my mother: 'Amma! Amma!' It took a few moments to realize where I was. 'Don't worry, Baacho. We are going to Pakistan. We have been asked to board this train, which is going to take us there. It's going to be a few days' journey.' People in the compartment were still asleep or trying to wake up - perhaps the time was too hectic. There were six families of ours, a total of 30 people. But our father was not in this crowd, and we had no idea about his whereabouts, or indeed if he was alive or dead! "Leaving home was traumatic, almost like a rupture. Sadness was writ large on every face. Yet, there was some satisfaction that our lives were going to be safe after this journey. But questions still remained: What was our final destination going to be? What kind of place would that be? Nobody knew..." Young Muslim girls were instructed to kill themselves by jumping into a well if Hindus attacked. Life during the post-partition period was uncertain and fraught with danger. These were the difficult days witnessed during the partition by Dr KA Abbas, who was born in Sonepat and spent his early childhood there until the age of 10. Those were the days when British rule had just ended, and India and Pakistan emerged on the map on the 14th and 15th of August, respectively. Muslims were to depart for Pakistan and Hindus for India. Abbas's journey began at the age of 10, following the painful migration, and he reached Pakistan after a couple of days. However, the partition was painful, and I think of all those who were part of that "train to Pakistan". They might have carried similar memories of the life they left behind in India, such as attending school, offering prayers in mosques or worshipping in mandirs, and playing in the streets that must still echo with their soft voices and laughter. The tragic reality of mass destruction, mass murder and inhumane treatment suffered by those migrants cannot be forgotten. More than one million people were killed during this migration, and many others, including women, men and children, were injured. It was not a comfortable journey but a cramped and desperate one, undertaken out of compulsion to relocate to the other part of the subcontinent. We have a solemn duty to honour the migrants of 1947. Both the living and the departed deserve state-level recognition as a source of national pride. They left behind all their belongings, sacrificed their lives and helped make this nation free and peaceful. They were the ones who truly knew the cost of freedom and independence.
Business Recorder
08-08-2025
- Business Recorder
‘Rang-e-Pakistan' exhibition: Tribute paid to freedom movement & national culture through art
FAISALABAD: In celebration of Pakistan's Independence Day, a vibrant and inspiring art exhibition titled Rang-e-Pakistan was inaugurated at the Institute of Art and Design, Government College University Faisalabad. The exhibition is a joint initiative of GC University Lahore, GC University Faisalabad, and the Inter-University Consortium for the Promotion of Social Sciences, aiming to honour Pakistan's rich cultural heritage, the legacy of the freedom movement, and the heroic contributions of the armed forces. The inaugural ceremony was graced by prominent academic and civic leaders, including Prof Dr Rauf-i-Azam Vice Chancellor of GC University Faisalabad, Prof Dr Muhammad Umar Chaudhry Vice Chancellor of GC University Lahore, Muhammad Murtaza Noor Coordinator of the Inter-University Consortium, Prof Dr Khanwal Amin Vice Chancellor Government College Women University Faisalabad, Vice Chancellor Faisalabad Medical University Prof Dr Zafar Ali Chaudhary, Member Syndicate GCUF Ms Farzana Musaddiq, representatives from the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce, leading social and intellectual figures of the city, Ms Tehmina Afzal, Incharge of the Institute of Art and Design at GCUF, Ms Amna Anwar Khan, Incharge of Fine Arts at GC University Lahore, faculty members, and a large number of students from both universities. The exhibition features an impressive collection of paintings, drawings, and mixed media artworks created by faculty members and students from both institutions. These artworks portray the diverse colours, emotions, and ideologies that define Pakistan's identity and legacy. Speaking at the event, Prof Dr Rauf-i-Azam stated Rang-e-Pakistan is not just an art exhibition, it is the expression of a national spirit. Through these works, our younger generation connects with the spirit of the Pakistan Movement, and the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal. Art and culture represent the collective identity and heritage of a nation. Prof Dr Muhammad Umar Chaudhry praised the initiative, calling it a timely and constructive activity, and said Intellectual and cultural exchanges between universities greatly enhance the academic environment. We are grateful to the Inter-University Consortium for making this vision a reality. Muhammad Murtaza Noor, Coordinator of the Inter-University Consortium, remarked this exhibition is not only a showcase of artistic expression, but also a practical platform for inter-university understanding, mutual collaboration, and intellectual growth. It is a step forward in helping the younger generation understand Pakistan's identity, its struggles, and the challenges of the future. The Rang-e-Pakistan exhibition will be open at GCU Faisalabad on August 7–8, and at GC University Lahore from August 11–14, 2025. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
12-07-2025
- Business Recorder
Military Awards conferred upon PN personnel
KARACHI: Pakistan Navy Investiture Ceremony 2025 was held at Bahria Auditorium, Karachi. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf graced the ceremony as Chief Guest and conferred various military awards upon naval personnel. The recipients of Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military) were Cdre Rashid Mahmood Sheikh, Cdre Tasawar Iqbal, Cdre Aamir Iqbal, Cdre Rashid Nazir, Cdre Zeeshan Shahid, Cdre Dr. Nadeem Kureshi, Cdre Dr. Tariq Mairaj Rasool Khan, Cdre Dr. Attaullah, Cdre Muhammad Umair, Cdre Shahid Wasif, Cdre Saqib Habib, Cdre Faisal Iqbal Qazi and Capt Syed Atif Hussain Bukhari PN. The recipients of Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Military) were Capt Naveed Ahmed PN, Cdr Imran Raza PN, Cdr Babar Ibne Saleem PN, Cdr Najeeb Ullah Khan Niazi PN, Cdr Rizwan Ullah PN, Surg Cdr Mohsin Raza Khan PN, Cdr Imtiaz Muhammad PN, Cdr Muhammad Anwer PN, Lt Cdr Syed Noman Masood PN, Lt Cdr Waleed Arif and Lt Cdr Muhammad Umar PN. The recipients of Tamgha-i-Basalat (Military) were Cdr Munawar Ahmed Bhatti PN, Cdr Naeem Ahmed Khan PN, Sadam Hussain PMT-I and Zain Ali PMT-II. 31 Awards of TK (M)-I, 53 awards of TK (M)-II and 99 awards of TK (M)-III were also conferred upon MCPOs, CPOs and Sailors of Pakistan Navy. Moreover, Letters of Commendation from Chief of the Naval Staff were awarded to 60 Officers, MCPOs/CPOs/Sailors and Navy Civilians. The ceremony was attended by a large number of senior, serving and retired officers of Pakistan Navy. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
