Authorities in Saudi Arabia confirmed that the crescent moon was sighted, marking Wednesday as the first day of fasting. The same date was announced by religious bodies in Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Palestine, Sudan, Somalia, and Djibouti.
In Iraq, both Sunni and Shiite authorities declared Wednesday as the start of the fasting month, while areas of Yemen under Houthi control also began observing Ramadan the same day. Sunni Muslims in Lebanon likewise started fasting on Wednesday, according to the country’s Grand Mufti.
Meanwhile, Egypt announced that Ramadan would begin on Thursday after the crescent moon was not sighted. Similar announcements were made by religious authorities in Jordan, Syria, Indonesia, Pakistan, Iran, Tunisia, and Malaysia.
Muslims in Türkiye, Oman, Singapore, and Australia will also begin fasting on Thursday, with authorities relying on astronomical calculations.
In Morocco, officials will sight the moon to determine the official start date.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, begins with the sighting of the crescent moon. Differences in start dates occur because some countries depend on local moon sightings, while others adopt astronomical data when visibility is uncertain.
