Dubai - Three Ramadan dates announced around the world.
Published: Mon 6 May 2019, 4:32 PM
Updated: Mon 6 May 2019, 7:37 PM
As Muslims around the world looked to the heavens the past few days to sight the Ramadan crescent all over the world, many of them had predicted a starting date - with May 6 and May 7 being the most likely dates to spot the Ramadan moon.
However, there was one country that claimed to have sighted the Ramadan crescent before any Arab, Muslim country in the region - the landlocked African country of Mali.
The West African nation announced the start of the Holy month on May 5 - therefore holding the distinction of being the only country in the world to begin Ramadan before anyone else, according to the Astronomy Centre in UAE.
Earlier on Sunday, the centre sighted the crescent during the day time in UAE, hence confirming that May 6 would be the start of Ramadan in the country - however an official confirmation was awaited until evening.
Oman was the only Gulf country to announce May 7 as the first day of Ramadan.
Australia was the first country to declare May 6 as the first day of the holy month.
Meanwhile in India and Pakistan, they have announced two separate dates in their respective countries - as parts of South India and parts of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa began Ramadan on Monday, while the rest of the country will most likely sight the crescent tonight and declare May 7 as the first day of Ramadan.
It is noteworthy that even though UAE convenes a moon-sighting panel, it follows Saudi Arabia's announcement.
See full list of dates here:
May 5, 2019
Mali
May 6, 2019
1 . Algeria
2 . Bahrain
3 . Egypt
4 . Ghana
5 . Indonesia
6 . Iraq
7 . Japan
8 . Jordan
9 . Kuwait
10 . Lebanon
11 . Libya
12 . Malaysia
13 . Nigeria
14 . Palestine
15 . Qatar
16 . Saudi Arabia
17 . Sudan
18 . Syria
19 . Tunisia
20 . Turkey
21 . United Arab Emirates
22 . United States
23 . Yemen
24. Australia
May 7, 2019
1 . Bangladesh
2 . Brunei Darussalam
3 . India
4 . Iran
5 . Morocco
6 . Nepal
7 . Oman
8 . Pakistan
9 . South Africa
10 . Sri Lanka
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