UAE: When will Ramadan begin? Experts predict start date for holy month of fasting

The UAE's International Astronomy Centre (IAC) reported on Thursday that most Muslims globally will likely begin Ramadan fasting on Saturday, March 1 after the crescent's appearance in the sky the previous night.

Mohammed Shawkat Odeh from the Centre explained that the crescent moon will be detectable with telescopes in particular Islamic regions on that day while people across wide areas of the Americas will see it with their bare eyes.

As the conjunction of the moon occurs before sunset while the moon sets after sunset throughout Islamic regions it leads to the expectation that most Islamic countries will commence the holy fasting month on March 1.

The duration of Islamic months can be either 29 or 30 days which depends on the sighted crescent moon. The official moon-sighting committees will gather on Shaaban's 29th day (February 28) to decide the official start date of Ramadan. The holy month will start tomorrow if the moon is sighted today.

The beginning of Ramadan will be forecasted by experts so you can learn when the holy month starts in the UAE. Subscribe to Just Dubai to receive the latest updates.