Eid Al Fitr Expected for March 31
The Islamic website Qatari Calendar House said March 31 is expected to be the first day of Eid Al Fitr, drawing its findings based on astronomical calculations.
'The crescent moon for this year's Shawaal (the 10th lunar month) will be born on the evening of Saturday, March 29 at 1:58 p..m. Doha local time,' The Peninsula Qatar said, citing forecasts by the Calendar House Executive Director Faisal Al Ansari.
Meanwhile, the International Astronomy Center suggests that sighting the crescent moon for the month of Shawaal will not be possible on Saturday, March 29 in the UAE. Therefore, Eid Al Fitr is expected to begin on Monday, March 31.
UAE celebrated the first day of Ramadan on March 1, unlike Morocco, which began fasting on March 2.
Morocco's Ibrahim Akhyam, a researcher in the science of timekeeping and a member of the Islamic Moon Sighting Project, told Morocco World News (MWN) that Ramadan is unlikely to complete its 30 days in Morocco, noting that Eid Al Fitr will all be on March 31.
Many countries are already gearing up for Eid, with markets bustling and concerts and events taking place around the world, including in the UAE.
'An eclectic line-up of music events is set to take place across the UAE in the week following Eid Al Fitr, featuring everything from pop concerts and high-profile club performances to children's musicals,' The National News reported.
Some Muslim countries have announced a prolonged holiday, including Saudi Arabia, which set the vacation at four days. Considering weeks in Saudi Arabia fall on Friday and Saturday, people in the country will enjoy a six-day break.
As for Morocco, if Eid falls on Monday, Moroccans can expect to have both Monday and Tuesday off.
In the Muslim world, religious authorities are assigned to sight the crescent moon, based on which the official date for Eid is announced through the official channels, including Islamic ministries.
Whether Eid falls on Sunday or Monday, Muslim communities are united in anticipation and celebration in these last days of Ramadan 2025. Tags: eid al fitr celebrations
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
10-07-2025
- Morocco World
Hijabi Woman Reportedly Banned from Entering Beach Club in Morocco
Rabat – A hijabi woman was reportedly denied entry to a beach club in Morocco because of her head covering. The young woman, who appeared to be a foreigner, posted a video on social media speaking about the incident, which triggered widespread criticism about a recurring issue that arises in Morocco every summer. 'I'm at a beach club in Morocco and they don't allow women with head cover to enter, so we're leaving,' she says in the video as she expresses shock at how such a thing could happen in a Muslim country. 'I'm here in Morocco… a Muslim country. This is so crazy,' she added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by المعلمة 🫰🏻 (@lem3allma_news) Her video was widely shared online, with Moroccan social media users condemning the beach club's actions. 'I just want to know the reason for the ban??? How is a scarf on hair going to affect a tourism project???' questioned one Instagram commenter. 'Welcome to our country' Meanwhile, other hijabi women shared similar experiences of how they were denied entry or told they could not wear hijab or burkini, a type of modest swimwear Muslim women wear, at certain clubs, swimming pools, or hotels. 'Welcome to our country. It happened to me as well,' another commenter wrote. Others, however, justified the owners' actions, arguing that they have the right to impose any rules since it is a private business. Some even said that such a place is not suitable for Muslims or hijabi women, since they usually serve alcohol and play music. 'That place serves alcohol and they have dance shows with women dressed half-naked. I mean, if she understood that, she wouldn't go to those kinds of places in the first place,' argued one commenter. Incidents like this are not uncommon in Morocco, especially during the summer. Many pools and hotels across the country have been criticized for not allowing hijabi women or those wearing burkinis to swim, insisting instead on conventional swimwear like bikinis. Tags: beach clubHijabMorocco
Morocco World
06-07-2025
- Morocco World
The Hidden Cost of Spiritual Tourism in Morocco: Heritage or Exploitation?
Morocco is a land where spiritual heritage runs deep, carved into the calloused hands of craftsmen in Fez, echoed in the chants of Sufi gatherings, and carried in the silence of the desert wind. Its Islamic roots are rich and complex, rooted in centuries of scholarship, infused with the mysticism of Sufism, and harmonized with the indigenous Berber traditions that give Moroccan Islam its unique vibrancy. For years, Morocco has welcomed tourists from all over the world, drawn to the dramatic sand dunes of Merzouga, the cinematic beauty of Ait Ben Haddou, the bustling souks of Marrakech, and the winding alleys of Tangier's ancient medina. But in recent years, a new trend has taken hold – 'spiritual tourism.' Visitors, often from Western countries, now seek not just sights and souvenirs, but a curated experience of Morocco's soul. They are drawn to the centuries-old 'masajid', to the hidden 'zawaya' tucked in alleys barely wide enough for a donkey cart, and to the hypnotic rhythm of Quranic recitation or 'dhikr' (remembrance). At first glance, this may seem like a beautiful cultural exchange, but peel back the surface, and a more troubling picture emerges. Take, for instance, the case of Secrets of Fes, a brand led by a British woman who offers exclusive spiritual tours of the historic city. Her social media pages are filled with poetic captions, sepia-toned images of minarets, and romanticized tales of 'sacred secrets.' But, behind the aesthetic lies a serious concern: she operates entirely outside Moroccan legal frameworks. Licensed Moroccan guides are required to go through rigorous training and are held accountable by the Ministry of Tourism. Secrets of Fes, however, sidesteps all regulation, profiting immensely while offering mere crumbs to the local community. According to our investigation, these tours rake in tens of thousands of dollars annually, while giving locals a pittance usually only from the attendees of the tour. Worse still, many of her narratives are riddled with misinformation and spiritual distortion, misrepresenting Islamic practices and Moroccan history for the sake of a compelling 'experience.' We sent independent researchers on several of these tours. What they found was alarming: claims of rituals and beliefs that have no basis in Islam , fabricated stories about revered figures, and a thinly veiled commodification of the sacred. And this is not an isolated case. Revival Retreats, another foreign-run operation, charges upwards of £1800 for a one-week-long 'spiritual journey' in Morocco. Groups of 15–20 participants flock to the country several times a year. Yet, when we spoke with caretakers of the local 'zawaya' and shrines included on their itinerary, none had ever been compensated. Despite the heavy footfall and the strain such visits place on these often underfunded sites, the financial benefit flows only one way into the pockets of the organizers . Even more concerning is that these retreats often function in a legal grey zone unregistered with the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism, avoiding taxation, and failing to report group movements to the authorities, as required by Moroccan law. What we are witnessing is not cultural appreciation it is spiritual extraction. Morocco's spiritual legacy is not a backdrop for Instagram photos or a stage for foreign spiritual entrepreneurs. It is a living, breathing heritage guarded by scholars, elders, caretakers, and communities who have preserved it for generations. When that heritage is exploited without accountability or benefit to the people who sustain it, it ceases to be an exchange and becomes a form of neocolonialism dressed in flowing linen and hashtags. Morocco deserves better. Its people deserve better. And its sacred traditions should never be for sale. To protect its cultural and spiritual assets, there must be immediate policy intervention. Foreign-run tours, particularly those involving religious or spiritual experiences, must be required to register with the Ministry of Tourism, employ licensed local guides, pay appropriate taxes, and respect community consent and compensation. Without regulation, these ventures will continue to exploit Morocco's intangible heritage unchecked, commodifying the sacred while leaving the stewards of that heritage behind. It's time to draw a clear line between cultural sharing and cultural extraction and to ensure that those profiting from Morocco's soul are also accountable to its people. Tags: 2019 tourismspiritual tourism
Ya Biladi
28-06-2025
- Ya Biladi
Tourism : Africa attracts Muslim tavelers, France loses ground
France is no longer among the most attractive destinations for Muslim travelers, according to the 2025 edition of the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI). Developed by CrescentRating in partnership with Mastercard, this benchmark ranking has assessed the world's most «Muslim-friendly» tourist destinations annually since 2015. The latest report, which now includes 153 countries, shows a notable decline in the appeal of several Western destinations. Countries such as France, Switzerland, Belgium, and even the United States are absent from this year's ranking. Meanwhile, nations like Kenya, New Zealand, and Lebanon are gaining prominence. The Asia-Pacific and African regions continue to rise in popularity. Malaysia, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia remain firmly at the top of the list. In 2024, Muslim tourists took nearly 176 million trips, an increase of over 25% compared to the previous year. By 2030, that number is expected to grow to 245 million, representing a market valued at $230 billion.
