Astronomers in Saudi Arabia have forecast that the new crescent moon will not be sighted on Friday, meaning Eid Al Fitr will fall on Sunday, May 24.
Stargazers at the observatory of Majmaah University near Riyadh said calculations revealed the moon will set before the sun on Friday evening.
Scientific calculations published on the astronomical observatory website showed that sun will set at 6:39pm and moon will set at 6:26pm.
On Saturday, Ramadan 30, the sun will set at 6:40pm with the crescent moon setting at 7:23pm and staying on for 43 minutes after sunset.
As a result Eid will fall on Sunday bringing an end to 30 days of fasting the astronomers said.
In the UAE, the first day of Eid Al Fitr will be announced on Friday night, after the moon-sighting committee meets remotely to search for a new crescent moon after maghrib prayers.
