Saudi Arabia and several Gulf states will mark the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday starting Sunday, March 30, 2025, while other countries in the Middle East will begin the celebration on Monday.
The Saudi Royal Court confirmed the announcement, stating that the Supreme Court had determined Sunday as the first day of Eid-ul-Fitr. The holiday, which signifies the end of Ramadan, is based on the sighting of the crescent moon, as per the Muslim lunar calendar.
In addition to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar also declared Sunday as the first day of Eid-ul-Fitr. However, Oman, Jordan, and Iran, where the crescent moon had not yet been sighted, will celebrate on Monday. Egypt and other North African nations are following the same schedule.
Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting during which Muslims refrain from eating or drinking from dawn until dusk. Traditionally, Muslims gather with family and friends to break their fast in the evening.
While the occasion is typically a time of joy and celebration, this year, Ramadan festivities have been overshadowed by ongoing conflict in Gaza, where the ongoing Israeli military operations have led to significant loss of life, with tens of thousands of casualties, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
