Muslims pray outside the Grand Mosque during the Muslim month of Ramadan in Mecca in the early hours of August 29, 2011. – Reuters Photo/Hassan Ali

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia announced Monday that the Eid-ul-Fitr feast marking the end of the fasting month of Ramazan will be on Tuesday, in a statement aired on state television Al-Ekhbariyah.

Religious authorities in Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest shrines, said the new moon had been sighted and that Ramazan ends on Monday with the feast to follow the next day.

The Islamic calendar is a lunar one, and most Muslim countries set the beginning of Eid-ul-Fitr by the sighting of the new moon.

Egyptian state television, quoting Islamic authorities, too declared that Eid-ul-Fitr will be on Tuesday.

The United Arab Emirates and Qatar also announced the end of Ramadan.

Opinion

Editorial

Hasty transition
05 May, 2024

Hasty transition

OUT of nowhere, the government has launched a new cybercrime authority: the National Cyber Crimes Investigation...
One small step…
05 May, 2024

One small step…

THERE is some good news for the nation from the heavens above. On Friday, Pakistan managed to dispatch a lunar...
Not out of the woods
05 May, 2024

Not out of the woods

PAKISTAN’S economic vitals might be showing some signs of improvement, but the country is not yet out of danger....
Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...