Ramadan 2024: UAE lunar sightings committee issues public notice

The United Arab Emirates, like other Islamic countries, determine the start of Ramadan by observing the moon, following official announcements by the moon observing committee in Mecca. Ramadan usually lasts 29 or 30 days.

Because the Muslim calendar year is shorter than the Gregorian calendar year, Ramadan begins 10 to 12 days earlier each year, allowing it to fall in each season over a 33-year cycle.

In the United Arab Emirates, Ramadan traditions begin in mid-Shaaban with the celebration of Hagg Al Layla. Emirati children, dressed in festive costumes, visit neighbors to collect sweets and nuts, singing traditional songs. The daily fast during Ramadan is marked by two main meals: Suhoor before sunrise and Iftar to break the fast at sunset, which usually begins with dates and laban.