Saudi Arabia and some other Gulf Arab states will celebrate the Eid al-Fitr holiday from Sunday, but other Middle Eastern countries will not observe it until Monday.
“The Supreme Court has decided that tomorrow, Sunday, March 30, 2025, is the first day of Eid al-Fitr,” the Saudi Royal Court said in a statement carried by official media.
The timing of the holiday, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon, in accordance with the Muslim lunar calendar.
The United Arab Emirates and Qatar also announced Sunday would be the first day of the holiday.
But neighbouring Oman and Jordan, as well as Shiite-majority Iran, said that Eid al-Fitr would not begin until Monday because the crescent moon had yet to be sighted. Egypt and other North African countries followed suit.
Sultan announces Sunday as Eid day in Nigeria
In Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, on Saturday night, declared Sunday as equivalent to 1 Day of SHAWWAL 1446AH and Eid-Fitri day across Nigeria.
The Sultan, who is the President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), said the decision followed the report of National Moon Sighting Committees across the country confirming the sighting of the new moon in several places in Nigeria.
The Sultan felicitated with the Nigerian Muslim Ummah and wished them Allah’s guidance and blessings, urging them to sustain the lesson learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
He also urged Muslim Ummah to continue to pray for peace, progress and development of the country, also wishes all Muslims well during and after the celebration.
