Saudi Arabia declares Eid Al Fitr will start Friday after moon sighted

The kingdom said that countries could follow their declaration even if they couldn’t physically see the moon

Saudis shop for clothing ahead of Eid Al Fitr in Jazan province. All photos: Spa

Women prepare for Eid Al Fitr with henna

Families shop for clothing in the lead-up to Eid Al Fitr

A store prepares to welcome shoppers in Al Jouf province

People buy perfumes, incense and sweets in preparation for Eid Al Fitr in Jazan

A sweets vendor in a market in Madinah welcomes customers ahead of Eid Al Fitr

An incense vendor in Jeddah welcomes shoppers

Shoppers visit a store in Madinah

A family shop for sweets in Jazan

The municipality of Najran finishes off preparations to welcome Eid Al Fitr

Saudi Arabia has declared that Eid Al Fitr will begin on Friday after experts sighted the new moon, the Saudi Press Agency has reported.

The announcement on Thursday evening was made by the kingdom's Supreme Court calling for people to head out to try to sight the moon from Thursday evening.

Experts gathered at Sudair and Tamir astronomical observatories in the kingdom at around 5 pm on Thursday evening to set up telescopes and sighting equipment to look for the moon.

The UAE and Egypt also declared the start of Eid Al Fitr from Friday.

Saudi Arabia's International Astronomy Centre said countries that are satisfied with mathematical calculations of lunar cycles and do not require a specific sighting of the crescent moon could follow the kingdom in holding Eid on Friday even if unfavourable conditions meant it was not visible in person.

Those that required a physical sighting of the crescent moon could wait until Saturday, it said.

Aerial views of Makkah at night before Eid - in pictures

Muslims performing evening prayers on the 29th night of Ramadan at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. All photos: SPA

Muslims performing evening prayers on the 29th night of Ramadan at the Grand Mosque in Makkah

Muslims performing evening prayers on the 29th night of Ramadan at the Grand Mosque in Makkah

Muslims performing evening prayers on the 29th night of Ramadan at the Grand Mosque in Makkah

Muslims performing evening prayers on the 29th night of Ramadan at the Grand Mosque in Makkah

Muslims performing evening prayers on the 29th night of Ramadan at the Grand Mosque in Makkah

Muslims performing evening prayers on the 29th night of Ramadan at the Grand Mosque in Makkah

Muslims performing evening prayers on the 29th night of Ramadan at the Grand Mosque in Makkah

Muslims performing evening prayers on the 29th night of Ramadan at the Grand Mosque in Makkah

Muslims performing evening prayers on the 29th night of Ramadan at the Grand Mosque in Makkah

Muslims performing evening prayers on the 29th night of Ramadan at the Grand Mosque in Makkah

The sighting of the moon signifies that the Eid Al Fitr celebrations will begin the following day.

Astronomer Muhammad Al Thaqafi said that astronomical data had shown Friday would be the first day of Eid Al Fitr however others had said the moon wouldn't be visible until Friday making Saturday the start.

Ramadan lasts for either 29 or 30 days depending on when the crescent moon is sighted because the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle.

Eid is marked by prayers at the mosque after dawn and is traditionally observed by Muslims across the world to mark the end of the Ramadan month of fasting from dawn until dusk.

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Islamic Affairs declared 20,700 mosques and outdoor prayer areas in the country ready for Eid Al Fitr prayers.

Typically, families dress up in Eid clothes and have traditional Eid breakfasts with family and friends after morning prayers.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced on Monday that public holidays for Eid Al Fitr would officially begin on Friday, April 21.

Muslims follow a lunar calendar, which is made up of 12 months in a year of 354 or 355 days.

Eid Al Fitr preparations around the world - in pictures

A man shops for sweets at a market before Eid Al Fitr in the port city of Sidon, Lebanon. Reuters

A street vendor sells balloons in Sidon. Reuters

Ministry of Religion employees in Aceh, Indonesia, observe the position of the Moon to determine when Eid Al Fitr will fall. EPA

A vendor selling sweets as Palestinians prepare for the Eid Al Fitr holiday in Khan Younis, the southern Gaza Strip. Reuters

Palestinian women make traditional cakes in Rafah, the southern Gaza Strip. Reuters

A woman has her arm decorated with henna at a street market in the run-up to Eid Al Fitr, which marks the end Ramadan, in Mogadishu, Somalia. AP

Henna designs are the order of the day in Mogadishu. AP

Pastries on display at a market stall in the Ulus district of Ankara, ahead of the Eid Al Fitr holiday. AFP

Many Muslims head back to their home towns and villages from bigger cities to spend Eid Al Fitr with family, such as this man and his children leaving Dhaka, Bangladesh. EPA

The sunglasses are on as the packed train leaves Dhaka. EPA

Passengers prepare to board a train in Surabaya, Indonesia, as people head home for the Eid holiday. AFP

Excitement is building for Eid Al Fitr in Karachi. EPA

A pet hotel attendant with a cat staying at the facility while its owners enjoy the Eid Al Fitr holiday in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. EPA

A Pakistani craftsman works on women's embroidered clothes before Eid Al Fitr in Peshawar, Pakistan. EPA

Embroidered cloth being stitched for Eid Al Fitr. EPA

Passengers at a bus station in Banda Aceh start the journey home for the festivities. AFP

Traffic at a toll booth as Muslims head home for Eid Al Fitr, known locally as Mudik, in Karawang, Indonesia. Reuters

Iraqi women prepare traditional cookies in Mosul ahead of Eid Al Fitr. AFP

The bakes are known as kleicha. AFP

Women visit a market ahead of Eid Al Fitr in Karachi. AP

A Palestinian girl prepares traditional date-filled cookies with her family in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP

A Palestinian family prepares food for Eid Al Fitr. AFP

A three-wheeled taxi, known as a 'bajaj', navigates its way through Tanah Abang market in Jakarta. AP

A vendor waits for costumers at a market in Jakarta. AP

A Palestinian worker prepares smoked fish at a factory in Rafah. AFP