RIYADH: For Muslims in Saudi Arabia, today (Wednesday) will be the first day of Ramazan, AFP reported on Tuesday, quoting an announcement from the kingdom’s royal court.

Saudi Arabia’s neighbours Oman, Qatar and the UAE have also made similar announcements.

In Iran, the supreme leader’s office announced moon-sighting groups will spread across that country on Wednesday evening to “attempt to observe the crescent marking the start of the holy month of Ramazan”.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Central Ruet-i-Hilal (or moon sighting) Committee will meet today in Peshawar to spot the Ramazan moon, and record testimonies from around the country.

The State Bank of Pakistan has also announced a bank holiday on the first of Ramazan, for the purpose of Zakat deduction.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2026