Ramadan begins in UAE, Saudi Arabia

Wednesday, July 10, is the first day of the holy month of Ramadan.

The UAE's moon sighting committee has announced that Tuesday 9 July 2013, will be the 30th day of the month of Sha'aban and accordingly, Wednesday 10 July 2013 will be the first day of the holy month of Ramadan.

Sheikh Shawki Allam, Mufti of Committees for Legitimacy and Scientific Fatwa of Egypt, announced that Wednesday is the first day of Ramadan.

The Chief Justice said in Jordan on Monday via state television said Wednesday will be the first day of the month of Ramadan in the Kingdom.

Mufti of Palestine Sheikh Mohammed Hussein also declared that the holy month will begin on Wednesday as there's been no evidence of moon sighting.

Most of the astronomers had predicted that the holy month of Ramadan will begin on Wednesday.

The Sharjah Planetarium at the Department of Culture and Information announced that the Ramadan Crescent will form on July 8, 2013 at 11:14am and set at 19:08pm, five minutes before the sunset. The crescent will be seen on July 9 in the evening. So the first day of Ramadan will be July 10, astronomically, corresponding to Ramadan 01, 1434 H.

Bangkok Post has announced that the Muslim religious authority in Thailand has declared Wednesday as the first day of the holy month. Because Ramadan begins on Wednesday, the Eid al-Fitr celebration marking the end of the 30-day fasting period will be on Aug 9, it said.

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