The moon sighting panel in Saudi Arabia has confirmed that the Eid ul Fitr to be observed on Sunday with a 29 day Ramadan.

Meanwhile, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Australia have announced that Eid will be observed on Monday marking a full 30 day Ramadan.

The central meeting was commenced in Sudair, located in the vicinity of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Meetings of the moon sighting committees were also held in more than 10 locations, including Makkah, Madinah, Tabuk, and Dammam.

According to Saudi astronomers, the new Shawwal moon was born today at 2pm and it will remain visible on the horizon for 8 minutes after sunset.

Reports indicated that in Saudi Arabia, the relevant authorities were closely monitoring the moon sighting, and an official announcement was expected soon. The variance in Eid dates across different countries is a common occurrence due to the reliance on local moon sightings, which can be influenced by geographical factors.

Saudi Gazette reported that experts believe there was a chance that the moon could be visible on Saturday evening, potentially marking the end of Ramadan.

From the Tamir observatory, observer Mutib Al-Burghash stated that spotting the crescent is possible under favourable weather conditions “If the skies are clear, it can be seen,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s National Center of Meteorology cautioned that clouds could affect visibility over Sudair and Tamir.

The Supreme Court urged Muslims across the Kingdom to try and sight the crescent moon on Saturday evening, the 29th of Ramadan, which corresponds to March 29.

Pakistan set for extended Eid al-Fitr holidays if moon is sighted on March 3

Meanwhile, in Pakistan, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is set to convene on Sunday to sight the Shawwal moon, with astronomical experts expressing optimism about its visibility.

In Pakistan, Meteorological experts have predicted clear visibility of the moon, raising hopes for a unified Eid celebration across the country. However, the final decision rests with the committee, based on received testimonies.

Australia, Malaysia, and Indonesia have officially declared that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Monday, March 31, according to Gulf News.

The Australian Fatwa Council confirmed that Eid in Australia will fall on March 31, based on astronomical calculations and local moon sighting conditions for the month of Shawwal.

This year, Australia will complete a full 30 days of fasting, with Sunday, March 30, observed as the final day of Ramadan.