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According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the International Astronomical Centre has predicted that Ramadan begin on May 6 in most of the Islamic nations.

The Astronomical Centre’s director, Mohamed Shawkat said that the eye sighting of the crescent moon would be impossible from East and Southeast Asia as well as Southern Europe and most of the Arab nations on Sunday, May 5. He asserted that it would be possible to sight the moon only with a telescope in the these regions on that day.Traditionally, the first day of Ramadan is when the crescent moon can be seen with the naked eye, and it marks the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

“The crescent will be formed on Sunday May 5 at 2.46am, but will not be able to be seen after sunset. That is why then, that the month of Ramadan will start the next day on Monday as per the moon-sighting custom,” he said.

Back in February, Ibrahim Al Jarwan, an astronomer from Sharjah Centre for Astronomy and Space Sciences has also predicted that Ramadan will likely begin on May 6. Moreover, also included in his predictions is the start of the month of Shawaal, which marks Eid Al Fitr, which is expected to be on Monday, June 3. “The new moon of the month of Eid Al Fitr is to disappear three minutes after sunset, while the first day of Shawwal is to fall on Wednesday, June 5, 2019 as per the due standards of moon sighting,” he explained.

According to these predictions, residents of the UAE will fast 13 hours and ten minutes during the first week of Ramadan, which will gradually reach to 13 hours and 40 minutes towards the end of the Holy month. If so, then this will mark the shortest fasting period for UAE residents in the past four years.

These dates are yet to be confirmed by the UAE moon-sighting committee.

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Media: Getty