Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the conclusion of Ramadan, is traditionally determined by the sighting of the crescent moon, following the Islamic lunar calendar.
Saudi Arabia, which hosts Islam’s most revered religious sites, has declared that the celebration of Eid al-Fitr will commence on Sunday, signalling the end of the month-long fasting period.
“The Supreme Court has decided that tomorrow, Sunday, March 30, 2025, is the first day of Eid al-Fitr,” the Royal Court said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency on X.
The start of Eid al-Fitr is based on the lunar calendar and is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon.
Both the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have declared that the holiday will begin on Sunday.
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In contrast, Oman and Iran, where Shiites form the majority, have set Monday as the first day of Eid celebrations.
Throughout the month of Ramadan, devout Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from food and drink. Evenings are traditionally spent breaking the fast with family and loved ones.
In Saudi Arabia, which is home to Islam’s two holiest sites in Mecca and Medina, fasting is an integral part of religious observance.
However, this year’s Ramadan was marked by sorrow across the Muslim world as Israel’s renewed military offensive in Gaza continued, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled enclave.
