Anticipated Dates for Eid al-Fitr 2025 Across the Gulf Region

The Qatar Calendar House anticipates March 30, 2025, as the first day of Eid al-Fitr. In the UAE, holidays for the private sector are scheduled from March 30 to April 1, though they may extend based on the moon sighting. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have also announced similar holiday periods, reflecting the variations based on local moon sightings.

The Qatar Calendar House has predicted that March 30, 2025, will be the first day of Eid al-Fitr based on astronomical calculations. The Executive Director, Faisal Al Ansari, noted that the crescent moon for Shawwal will appear on the evening of March 29 at 1:58 PM local time in Doha. However, the precise start date of Shawwal is determined by the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs’ Crescent Sighting Committee.

In the United Arab Emirates, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization has declared that the Eid al-Fitr holiday for the private sector will span from March 30 to April 1, 2025. Should Ramadan conclude on its 30th day, the holiday will extend to April 2. The federal government sector will have a holiday from 1st to 3rd Shawwal, with resumption of work on 4th Shawwal if Ramadan lasts for the full month.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has announced a four-day holiday for the private and non-profit sectors, from March 30 to April 2, with a return to work on April 3. This results in a total holiday of six days when accounting for the preceding weekend.

In Kuwait, if Eid al-Fitr begins on March 30, the public sector will have a holiday for three days, resuming on April 2. If Eid starts on March 31, the holiday extends from March 30 to April 5, resulting in a nine-day break when combined with the weekends.

The official date for Eid al-Fitr 2025 remains undetermined as it is contingent on the sighting of the moon. As Eid approaches, the UAE moon-sighting committee will make the announcement just prior to Ramadan’s conclusion. The UAE’s legislation states that if Ramadan lasts for 30 days, the 30th day is considered a holiday.

If the crescent moon is spotted on Ramadan 29, the holiday would initiate on March 30 and last until April 1. However, if it is not sighted, Ramadan will last 30 days, placing the beginning of Eid on March 31 and extending the holiday through to April 2. This scenario would then result in a five-day holiday for residents of the UAE, from Saturday to Wednesday.

The expected start date for Eid al-Fitr in 2025 is confirmed to be March 30, pending the moon sighting. This will impact holiday plans across Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, with varying durations and conditions for both public and private sectors. As the event approaches, the official announcements will clarify holiday specifics, influenced by the lunar calendar.

Original Source: economymiddleeast.com