Saudi Arabia will observe Ramadan from Saturday, state media in the kingdom has reported.
Observers spotted the new moon on Friday evening and reported the sighting to religious authorities.
After approving the sighting, the Saudi Supreme Court said that Saturday will be the first day of the holy month.
Ramadan is the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic — or Hijri — calendar. It is also believed to be the month the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed.
Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset every day of the month, which is typically 29 or 30 days.
The month is also a period during which Muslims seek to strengthen their faith through prayer and increased recitation of the Quran.
Saudi Arabia has eased Covid-19 restrictions for Ramadan this year. This allows worshippers to return to mosques at full capacity without any social-distancing measures, after two years.
Neighbouring UAE will also begin Ramadan on Saturday, the UAE's moon-sighting committee confirmed.
Ramadan will begin in Oman on Sunday, however, after a moon-sighting committee did not spot the crescent, the Oman News Agency reported.
Ramadan 2021 in Makkah - in pictures
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An aerial view of the Grand Mosque complex in the Saudi city of Makkah, during the first day of Ramadan. AFP -
Worshippers perform the evening taraweeh prayer during Ramadan around the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque complex in Makkah. Saudi authorities said on April 5 only people immunised against Covid-19 will be allowed to perform the year-round Umrah pilgrimage from the start of Ramadan, the fasting month for Muslims. AFP -
Worshippers perform taraweeh prayers at the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque complex in Makkah. AFP -
Worshippers gather for prayers at the Kaaba, the holiest shrine in the Grand Mosque complex in the Saudi city of Makkah on the first day of Ramadan. AFP -
Umrah pilgrims outside the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. During Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. AP -
Barriers and a checkpoint set up to allow only permitted pilgrims as a precaution against coronavirus outside the Grand Mosque in Makkah. AP -
A general view of the Kaaba, the focal point of the Grand Mosque complex in the Saudi city of Makkah. AFP -
The faithful face the Kaaba during taraweeh prayers on the first day of the holy fasting month. Since the start of Ramadan only worshippers immunised against Covid-19 are allowed to perform Umrah. AFP -
Pilgrims pray at the Kaaba in Makkah on the first day of Ramadan. AFP -
First dawn prayers of Ramadan this week at the Grand Mosque, in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. AP
