Manama: Muslims in Bahrain will fast for up to 15 hours and 17 minutes during Ramadan, which is expected to start on May 27, a senior Bahrain astronomer said.

Waheeb Al Nasser said that the crescent marking the start of the lunar month would be sighted on May 26 at 6:22pm for 42 minutes in Bahrain, marking the start of fasting the next day.

Ramadan will last for 29 days and Eid Al Fitr, the feast celebrating the end of the holy month, will be on June 25, he said.

Last year, Muslims in Bahrain fasted for 15 hours and 18 minutes on the first day of Ramadan, and 15 hours and seven minutes on the last day of the holy month.

Al Nasser added that the weather during Ramadan is expected to be more clement than in previous years, with the highest temperature forecast to hit 34.1 degrees Celsius and average humidity at 78 per cent.