Saudi Arabia announces the first day of Eid Al Fitr 2025
Eid prayers set for early morning at thousands of mosques across Kingdom
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia has announced that Sunday, March 30, 2025, will mark the first day of Eid Al Fitr following the confirmed sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon on Saturday evening.
The moon-sighting committee convened after Maghrib prayers and verified the new lunar month, bringing Ramadan to an end after 29 days of fasting.
A statement from the Royal Court is expected to officially confirm that Saturday will be the last day of Ramadan, allowing millions of worshippers across the Kingdom to prepare for one of Islam’s most significant celebrations. Families are expected to gather in mosques and prayer grounds for the early morning Eid prayers, ushering in a day of communal joy, reflection, and charity.
Shawwal moon sighting confirmed
The process of determining the start of Shawwal follows the Islamic lunar calendar, which relies on crescent moon sightings to mark the beginning of a new month. The moon-sighting committee, comprising scholars and astronomers, gathered at key observatories across Saudi Arabia to conduct the observations. Reports confirming the sighting were swiftly relayed to the relevant authorities, paving the way for the Eid announcement.
This year’s Ramadan lasted 29 days, in line with the traditional practice of lunar calculations. While some regions may differ in their moon sighting results, Saudi Arabia’s confirmation is significant as it often influences Eid announcements in neighbouring Gulf and Muslim-majority countries.