Eid Al Fitr: First image of Shawwal crescent

Abu Dhabi: Al Khatm Astronomical Observatory, located in the Abu Dhabi desert, officially confirmed the sighting of the Shawwal crescent for the year 1446 AH on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at 7:30 AM UAE time.

The crescent, positioned 10.5 degrees away from the Sun, was captured in an image by Mohamed Auda, alongside his team members Khalfan Al Nuaimi, Osama Ghanam, Anas Mohammed, and Sameh Al Ashi. 

In a tweet shared via X (formerly Twitter), the observatory clarified that the crescent’s shape does not influence the accuracy of determining the start of Shawwal, whether it is Sunday or Monday, and emphasized that there is no direct correlation between the crescent's appearance and the moon’s visibility in marking the first day of the new month.