
Ramadan 2025: UAE calls on Muslims to sight Moon on February 28
The UAE has called on all Muslims in the Kingdom to sight the crescent for Ramadan on the evening of Friday, February 28, the Emirates Fatwa Council announced on Wednesday.
The date corresponds to 29 Shaban AD in the Umm Al Qura calendar which has been developed by the country to determine dates and months.
Islamic months in the Hijri calendar last up to 29 or 30 days.
The Ramadan Crescent Sighting Committee, which is affiliated with the Emirates Fatwa Council, based on the Council's mandate to sight the crescent moon in the country, calls on anyone who sees the crescent moon to contact it on 027774647, or via the link: https://forms.office.com/r/CwAUg1buUP.
If the Moon is spotted on Friday evening after the Maghrib prayer, Ramadan will commence on March 1. Whereas, if the crescent is not sighted, then the holy month will begin on March 2.
Saudi Arabia too called on all Muslims in the Kingdom to sight the crescent for Ramadan on the evening of Friday, February 28.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Middle East Eye
8 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Islam is world's fastest-growing religion, new Pew study finds
The number of Muslims grew more than all other religions combined, making Islam the fastest-growing religion over the decade between 2010 and 2020, a new study by the Pew Research Center has found. Pew's Global Religious Landscape study, released on Monday, attributed the growth of Islam to natural demographic growth. It also concluded that at the global level, Muslim population change had "little to do with people converting into or out of the faith". "Muslims have more children and are younger, on average, than members of any other major religion," the study said. "Based on data for the 2015-2020 period, we estimated a Muslim woman would have 2.9 children, on average, in her lifetime, compared with 2.2 children per non-Muslim woman," the report added. The study, which examined how global religious composition changed between 2010 and 2020, concluded that while Christianity remained the world's largest religion, comprising 2.3 billion people, the gap between the proponents of Islam and Christianity continued to shrink. According to the study, the world's Christian population decreased by about 1.8 percent since 2010. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Regional changes The increase in the number of Muslims in the world was concentrated primarily in Muslim-majority countries. Islam saw the largest growth relative to other religions in Kazakhstan, Benin, and Lebanon, while the share of Muslims in Oman and Tanzania decreased. The quiet migration: Why Muslims are leaving India in staggering numbers Read More » The percentage of religiously unaffiliated people grew particularly steeply in the US, with an increase of 97 percent from 2010. The majority of religiously unaffiliated people live in China, where 1.3 billion people are not affiliated with any religion. Pew's analysis found that Christians were still a majority in 60 percent of all countries and territories surveyed. However, Christianity decreased by at least five percent in 40 countries, while only significantly increasing in one. Pew attributed part of this decline to people leaving Christianity, by measuring the number of adults who changed their religion to one different than the one they were raised in. Between 2010 and 2020, for every one adult that joined Christianity, three left. For the religiously unaffiliated, the opposite was true. For every one adult who stopped being unaffiliated religiously, three more became religiously unaffiliated. Both Buddhism and Hinduism also saw more adults leave their religion than join it. Islam was the only religion where more adults joined than left. The growth of Islam Islam is the world's second-largest religion, with around two billion people, or around a quarter of the world's population. It grew by nearly 350 million people since 2010, almost three times as much as Christianity and more than all other religions combined. There are also nearly two billion religiously unaffiliated people, an increase of 270 million people since 2010. They were the only category, along with Muslims, to grow relative to other religions as a share of the world's population. Hinduism, the world's third-largest religion, with 1.2 billion people, grew by 126 million people. However, its percentage of the world's population remained unchanged. The number of people belonging to other religions, such as Sikhism and Baha'i, grew to around 200 million people, or 2.2 percent of the world's population. Judaism grew by nearly a million people, and remained around 0.2 percent of the world's population. Buddhism was the only major religion to have fewer people in 2010 than in 2020, with a decrease of 18.6 million people. It fell from around five percent to four percent of the world's population.


Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Likely dates for Hijri New Year, next Ramadan, Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha revealed
As residents come back from the Eid Al Adha long weekend, many are already looking forward to upcoming holidays in 2026, while reminiscing the long weekends that flew by this year. Faithful across the country, like always, await the dates of major religious events that are set to take place during the next year. The UAE's Astronomy Centre on Monday revealed likely dates for major Islamic events in 2026, corresponding to 1447 AH in the Islamic calendar. Months in the Hijri calendar last 29 to 30 days and are determined on the basis of the Moon sighting. The UAE's Moon sighting committee gathers to sight the Moon at the end of every month, and urges residents to do the same on important occasions. Important to note is that the newly released dates are based on astronomical calculations. These may differ from official holiday dates and should merely be considered as the most likely dates, the authority stated. From Muharram (that is, the first month of the Hijri calendar) to Eid Al Adha in 2026, here are the important ones to know: Muharram The Moon sighting for the month of Muharram is likely to take place on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, which corresponds to Dhul Hijjah 29, 1446 AH. This would mean that the start of the new Islamic year will likely commence on Thursday, June 26, 2025. As per the official UAE holidays calendar, residents can expect a public holiday on the occasion. Ramadan Residents of the UAE are in for a treat with Ramadan set to fall in the cooler month of February next year. The holy month, which is observed by Muslims across the globe, shifts 10 to 12 days behind every year. This year, Ramadan was on Saturday, March 1. The month of Ramadan, which lasts 29 or 30 days, is observed with the act of fasting from dawn to dusk, and highlights the qualities of abstinence and charity. For 2026, the crescent is likely to be sighted on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. This would mean that the holy month would begin on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, in some parts of the world. Since the moon sighting differs in eastern and western regions of the world, countries located in the eastern region will sight the moon on Wednesday, February 18, and start fasting from Thursday, February 19, 2026. Eid Al Fitr The occasion of Eid Al Fitr is marked at the end of Ramadan, where faithful come together to celebrate the end of the fasting and charitable month. The Moon sighting to commence the month of Shawwal depends on whether Ramadan lasts 29 or 30 days. It is expected to be on Thursday, March 19, 2026. This means that Eid Al Fitr could fall on Friday, March 20, 2026. This date will also differ depending on which part of the world you are in, with eastern regions usually sighting the moon a day later. Eid Al Adha The festival of Eid Al Adha, celebrated on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah — the last month of Hijri calendar — falls a day after the Day of Arafah (Dhul Hijjah 9), which is considered to be the most holy day in Islam. On Eid Al Adha, faithful come together to remember the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim and slaughter cattle and distribute it among the needy. The nine days leading up to the festival are also spent in remembrance of God and spirituality. On the ninth day, Muslims across the globe fast, except for those performing Hajj (the holy pilgrimage). This journey is usually observed between the 8th and 12th or 13th of Dhul Hijjah. In 2026, the crescent marking the start of Dhul Hijjah is expected to be spotted on Saturday, May 16, which means the first day of Dhul Hijjah will begin on Sunday, May 17. This will similarly differ in the eastern region, where the Moon will be spotted a day later on Sunday, May 17, and Dhul Hijjah will begin on Monday, May 18, 2026. This would mean that Eid Al Adha may fall on Tuesday, May 26, in the UAE and western parts of the world, while other parts of the globe will mark it on Wednesday, May 27.


Sharjah 24
5 days ago
- Sharjah 24
Al Khalidiya Council brings joy to the community in Eid al-Adha
The initiative targets needy families in Al Khalidiya Suburb on the occasion of Eid al-Adha 2025. This humanitarian gesture reflects the deep-rooted culture of giving and participation that the Council embraces in its programmes and initiatives throughout the year. The initiative falls within the framework of the Council's continuous community initiatives, embodying its social vision stemming from the directives of SDAD. Link between institutions and residents These initiatives aim to consolidate the Council's presence as a true link between institutions and residents, and a direct player in bringing joy to families and happiness on various national and religious occasions, especially holidays, which are marked by renewed bonds of friendship and solidarity. This year's initiative included the distribution of 130 large fruit baskets to needy families in the suburb. Baskets were carefully prepared to include a variety of fresh fruit and distributed under the direct and on-site supervision of His Excellency Khalfan Saeed Al Marri, Chairman of Al Khalidiya Suburb Council, the Vice Chairman of the Council, and Council members and employees. The volunteer committee also played an active role in delivering the fruit to those in need throughout the suburb. The initiative was well-received by residents, who expressed their gratitude and appreciation for this repeated humanitarian effort, which reflects the Council's genuine concern for their needs and feelings. They emphasised that this gesture conveys a sense of loyalty and belonging and embodies one of the aspects of the distinguished community work that characterises the Emirate of Sharjah. Annual tradition His Excellency Khalfan Saeed Al Marri, Chairman of Al Khalidiya Suburb Council, emphasised that the Council prioritises launching unique initiatives that enhance local community cohesion and contribute to strengthening bridges of love and solidarity between the Council and residents. He noted that the "Eid Fruits" initiative has become a well-established annual tradition, renewed each year with the advent of Eid al-Adha, with its sublime meanings that transcend the material aspect to encompass an emotional dimension that embodies the depth of human and social relations among the residents of the suburb. Al Marri added that this initiative complements a series of regular initiatives the Council regularly organises on various occasions, in line with its mandate to foster social cohesion and support families. He emphasised that the Council will continue to fulfill its societal role in a manner that enhances positive spirits and aligns with the aspirations of the wise leadership to build a cohesive and happy society.