Saudi Arabia announced on Monday that the holiday of Eidul Fitr marking the end of the Ramazan fast will begin on Wednesday.
“Supreme Court declares tomorrow the last day of Ramazan and Wednesday the first day of Eidul Fitr,” the official Saudi Press Agency said on its X account.
The timing of Eidul Fitr is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon, in accordance with the Muslim lunar calendar.
Saudi media outlets reported that the crescent moon was not visible on Monday.
The United Arab Emirates and Qatar also announced that Eidul Fitr, a holiday normally celebrated with family gatherings, would begin on Wednesday.
Saudis are expected to observe a four-day holiday for Eid al-Fitr.
Across the Muslim world, Ramazan festivities this year were overshadowed by the fighting in Gaza, where Israel’s military campaign to eradicate Hamas has killed at least 33,207 people, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the besieged territory.
The fighting was sparked by the October 7 attack against Israel by Hamas that resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, Israeli figures show.
Hamas also took more than 250 Israeli and foreign hostages, 129 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 the army says are dead.
Mediators pushed in vain for a ceasefire to take effect before the start of Ramazan.
Talks on a ceasefire have resumed in Cairo, but no breakthrough has yet been announced.
