Eid Al Fitr 2020 in UAE to begin on Sunday

Moon-sighting confirms end of Ramadan and beginning of a new Islamic month, in remote meeting

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  Ramadan lights on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  The sun sets behind Al Rustmani Mosque in Jebel Ali on the day before Ramadan, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Ramadan lights in the Greens Community in Dubai. Antonie Robertson/The National

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  The sun rises over Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque on the first morning of Ramadan. Mosques remain closed due to Covid-19, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Ramadan decorations on the Corniche. Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Ramadan decorations on the Corniche. Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Ramadan decorations on the Corniche. Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  An evening with the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Ramadan decorations on Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid street in Ajman. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Pre-Ramadan at the Public Slaughter House in Mina Zayed. Victor Besa / The National

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  The installed Ramadan lights on the Corniche. Victor Besa / The National

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  First day of Ramadan. A canon is fired to mark the beginning of iftar at the Umm Al Emarat Park, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  A Moreish Sweets saleswoman with some Ramadan sweets at the Al Raha Mall reopening during the Covid-19 pandemic. Victor Besa / The National

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  People line up in Bur Dubai to receive an iftar package from volunteers of the Kerala NGO Markaz. Reem Mohammed/The National:

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  The Imam of Port Saeed Masjid in Al Muraqqabat calls the Maghreb prayer. Reem Mohammed/The National

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  Workers queue for free iftar meals at Dubai Investment Park. Reem Mohammed / The National

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  Volunteers at the iftar distribution in Dubai Investment Park, inside a small mosque, pick up their iftars. Reem Mohammed/The National

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  Ramadan decor inside the Al Fateh Plaza shop at the Dhow Harbor and Al Mina Souk. Victor Besa / The National

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  The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque without Ramadan visitors during the Coronavirus pandemic. Victor Besa / The National

Eid Al Fitr will begin on Sunday in the UAE, the state news agency Wam announced on Friday.

The date was confirmed by the moon-sighting committee, who convened remotely after maghrib prayers to deliberate the end of Ramadan and beginning of Shawwal.

They agreed it was not possible to see the new crescent moon, which would indicate the start of the next Islamic month. This means Ramadan will last 30 days this year and the first day of Eid, Shawwal 1, will fall on Sunday.

The committee was formed under the chairmanship of Minister of Justice Sultan Al Badi and includes a number of senior officials.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation previously announced that public and private sector workers would have Ramadan 29 (Friday May 22) to Shawwal 3 off as a holiday. Friday's announcement means workers will have until Tuesday, May 26, off, resuming work on Wednesday, May 27.

On Friday, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, congratulated President Sheikh Khalifa, ahead of Eid, wishing him good health and the country prosperity.

He also also congratulated Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Rulers of the Emirates, as well as Emiratis and residents.

The committee typically uses a two-pronged approach when determining the start of a new Islamic month. First, they searching for the new moon using telescopes and then confirm it by sighting the moon with the naked eye. This year, the committee is meeting through video conference to avoid breaching precautionary measures taken by the country to avoid the spread of Covid-19.

Images are sent to them from astronomers on the ground and local courts across the country.

They deliberate together and make a final decision.

On the first day of Eid, Muslims typically wake up just before dawn to perform Eid prayers at mosques. Muslims tend to wear new clothes and visit family and friends. This year's celebrations will be muted, with mosques closed and gatherings limited to no more than five people in homes, as part of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Authorities have implored families not to visit each other, to protect one another from potential infection.

Celebrations tend to last for three days. In recent years, it became common practice to travel during Eid but, this year, no one will be able to travel internationally because flights have been grounded. Instead, many have booked into hotels across Dubai and the Northern Emirates for staycations.

Ramadan 2020 around the world:

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  Jamil Kaydee, Niina Kaydee and daughter Amelia during afternoon prayer, known as Asr, at their home in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images

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  An aerial view shows the deserted Grand Mosque in Makkah on the first day of Ramadan. AFP

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  A deserted Istiqlal Grand Mosque in Jakarta on the first day of Ramadan. AFP

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  Ramadan is an opportunity to learn something new and reflect. EPA

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  Children read the Quran at a Mosque in Herat, Afghanistan. EPA

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  People visit the Imam Ali mosque in the central Iraqi city of Najaf, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan amid the novel coronavirus pandemic crisis. AFP

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  A Kashmiri Muslim checks his cell phone after praying outside a closed Muslim shrine in Srinagar. AP Photo

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  Iranian women wearing face masks pray during a religious ceremony called Laylat Al Qadr in a mosque at the Tehran's university, in Tehran. EPA

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  Displaced Syrian family break their fast together for the sunset iftar meal during Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. AFP

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  A Sunni cleric wearing protective protective gloves, prays at the Mohammed Al-Amin Mosque in Beirut. AFP

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  People wearing protective face masks read verses from the Quran in Sanaa, Yemen. EPA

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  Muslims pray before breaking their fast in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. REUTERS

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  A Muslim singer wears his sufi clothing before singing Islamic songs at his home in Cairo, Egypt. EPA

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  Volunteers clothed in personal protection equipment prepare iftar meals in Ankara, Turkey. AFP

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  A canon is fired at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque to mark the beginning of iftar. Victor Besa / The National