An astronomy centre in Abu Dhabi announced that the month preceding Ramadan will begin on Monday, indicating when the Holy Month of fasting may begin.
Mohammed Odeh, director of International Astronomy Centre in the UAE capital, told Al Khaleej it was not possible to sight the new crescent moon on Saturday night, due to the short time that the moon would have been visible.
The sandstorm that swept the UAE on Saturday also made it impossible to view the new moon.
As a result, Sha'ban will begin on Monday, as also announced by Saudi Arabia and other Islamic countries. This offers a potential two-day window as to when Ramadan will begin.
If Sha'ban lasts 29 days, Ramadan will begin on Tuesday, April 13, but if it lasts 30 days, Muslims will begin fasting on Wednesday, April 14.
The official day will be determined by the UAE's moon-sighting committee – a group of astronomers, court officials and advisers from the country's Islamic authority.
The committee will likely convene virtually again this year, due to the Covid-19 outbreak, to sight the new moon.
Searching for the new crescent can be difficult, because it is usually faint and is only seen for about 20 minutes. The committee relies on telescopes to detect the crescent moon, then confirm it with the naked eye.
Sha'ban is the eighth month in the Islamic calendar and is typically when Muslims begin preparing for a month of increased piety and fasting.
