The moon-sighting committee has announced that Friday will be first day of the month of Shawwal, and therefore the first day of Eid Al Fitr. Earlier in the week, it was announced that holiday <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/government/eid-al-fitr-2018-holiday-announced-for-uae-private-sector-1.739269">for private sector employees</a> would be Shawwal 1 to 2 and <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/eid-al-fitr-holiday-announced-for-uae-public-sector-1.738798">for public employees</a> the first day of the holiday was Thursday and the last will be Shawwal 3, or Sunday. This means private sector employees who do not work on the weekends will be unlikely to get extra leave. The moon-sighting committee met under the chairmanship of Minister of Justice Sultan Al Badi, along with a number of senior officials. In an interview with Abu Dhabi TV, Dr Farooq Hamada, religious adviser to the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi, said the committee had received information from astronomers and religious figures and discussed the findings. Astronomers gathered in Jebel Hafeet on Thursday morning in a bid to spot the new crescent moon signaling the end of Ramadan. The International Astronomy Centre announced that the new moon had been seen through use of telescopes. The UAE's moon sighting committee uses a two pronged approach, first searching for the new moon using telescopes and then confirming the new moon by sighting it with the naked eye. Dr Hamada called on the public not to believe rumours that were being circulated and instead look to the country’s official sources for a final call. _______________ <strong>Read more:</strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/government/eid-al-fitr-2018-holiday-announced-for-uae-private-sector-1.739269">Eid Al Fitr 2018 holiday announced for UAE private sector</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/eid-al-fitr-2018-the-24-best-things-to-do-this-weekend-in-the-uae-1.739393">Eid Al Fitr 2018: the 24 best things to do this weekend in the UAE</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/travel/five-last-minute-staycation-offers-for-eid-al-fitr-1.739865">Five last-minute staycation offers for Eid Al Fitr</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/heritage/watch-eid-mubarak-from-the-national-1.739974">WATCH: Eid Mubarak from The National</a></strong> _______________ Eid Al Fitr celebrations begin with Eid prayers at fair, or dawn, and involves prayers performed in a group and specific particular rituals and a sermon. Muslims are advised to follow the tradition of Prophet Mohammed and bathe before Eid prayers, wearing perfume and new clothes. Muslims celebrate Eid Al Fitr for two or three days by visiting families and loved ones. It is also set to be a big weekend of shopping, with <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/savings-of-up-to-90-per-cent-at-huge-24-hour-eid-sale-coming-to-abu-dhabi-1.739985">discounts of up to 90 per cent</a> at more than 1,500 outlets at 15 malls in Abu Dhabi for a 24-hour Eid mega sale. The sale will kick off at 10am on Friday and run until 10am the following day, and there will also be a diverse line-up of events and activities at malls and venues across the emirate. Abu Dhabi will also be marking the first day of Eid Al Fitr with a fireworks display from 9pm on Friday at Abu Dhabi Corniche and Hazza bin Zayed stadium in Al Ain. The Islamic calendar is determined by moon phases making each month last either 29 or 30 days. Islamic years span on average between 354 and 355 days.
