Eid Al Fitr expected to fall on June 5

The holy month of Ramadan shall last until next Tuesday (June 4), and Eid Al Fitr is expected to fall next Wednesday (June 5), according to astronomical calculations.
Ibrahim Al Jarwan, member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences (AUASS), said the new moon of the lunar month of Shawwal that follows Ramadan shall emerge on June 3 at around 2.20pm.
"It shall then disappear three minutes after sunset and, hence, it will be impossible to see it from anywhere all over the Arabian Peninsula," he said.
If this would be the case, the first day of the month of Shawwal - first day of Eid Al Fitr - would fall next Wednesday, June 5, according to the rules of astronomical moon sighting.
The forecast matched the list of holidays that was earlier announced by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAGHR).
The FAGHR list specifies that the holidays would be from Ramadan 29 to Shawaal 3. This means residents may enjoy up to six days off - including Friday and Saturday - from June 3 to June 8.
In addition, the list also specifies Arafat (Hajj) Day as a holiday and it is expected to fall on August 10, a Saturday. The three days that follow, August 11 to 13, will also be official holidays, in observance of Eid Al Adha.
"The new moon of the lunar month of Zul Hijjah - the season of Hajj or pilgrimage - is expected to emerge on Thursday, August 1, around 7.11am," Al Jarwan said.
It shall then disappear 28 minutes after the sunset, he added. "Therefore, the first day of the month of Zul Hijjah is predicted to fall on Friday, August 2, and Eid Al Adha shall be on Sunday, August 11."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com