Eid al-Fitr to start on Sunday in most Arab countries

By Ibrahim Khazen and Rania Abu Shamala

ISTANBUL (AA) – Muslims in most Arab countries will celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, on Sunday.

Religious authorities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said that the new crescent of Shawwal (the 10th month of the Islamic calendar) was sighted on Saturday and that Eid al-Fitr will be observed on Sunday.

A similar announcement was made by Yemen and Iraq’s Sunni Endowment Office.

The Gulf country of Oman, however, said that Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated on Monday as the new crescent was not sighted.

Eid al-Fitr, festival of breaking the fast at the end of the holy month of Ramadan, is the first of the two main festivals in Islam, the other being Eid al-Adha.