Muharram Crescent Sighted in Daylight in United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi (News Desk) The United Arab Emirates has confirmed the sighting of the Muharram crescent during daytime, marking the beginning of the new Islamic year 1448 AH.

According to the Astronomical Centre, the crescent moon of Muharram-ul-Haram was observed on Monday, June 15, during daytime conditions. The observation was confirmed by the Al Khatm Astronomical Observatory in Abu Dhabi, which captured an image of the crescent at 11:00 AM local time.

At the time of observation, the moon was recorded at an angular distance of 5.4 degrees from the sun, and its age was approximately 5 hours and 35 minutes, according to the observatory.

The announcement marks the official beginning of the Islamic lunar year in the UAE, with residents once again benefiting from extended public holidays. The government declared Monday, June 15, as an official holiday on the occasion of the Islamic New Year.

For residents following the standard Saturday-Sunday weekend, this resulted in a three-day holiday break. In Sharjah, where Friday is also part of the weekend along with Saturday and Sunday, government employees and students enjoyed a four-day holiday period.

The Hijri calendar is based on lunar months, with each month consisting of 29 or 30 days depending on the sighting of the moon. The new Islamic year begins with the month of Muharram, which is determined by the physical observation of the crescent.

On the occasion of the holiday, public parking in Dubai was made free on Monday, June 15, except for multi-storey parking facilities. Normal parking fees are scheduled to resume from Tuesday, June 16.