UAE Eid Al Fitr holidays: 4 or 5 days depending on crescent moon sighting

Abu Dhabi: The Eid al-Fitr holidays in the UAE could last either four or five days, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon.

Based on astronomical calculations, the first day of Shawwal and the official start of Eid is expected to fall either on Sunday, March 30, or Monday, March 31, 2025.

Ibrahim Al-Jarwan, Chairman of the Emirates Astronomical Society and member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, confirmed that the Shawwal crescent will be born on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 2:58pm UAE time. By sunset, the moon will be just three hours old and barely visible, with only 0.01% of its surface illuminated. Due to its low position near the horizon and the sun’s lingering glare, it will be difficult to sight the crescent, which is why Sunday, March 30, is expected to mark the completion of Ramadan. If this holds true, the first day of Shawwal — and Eid al-Fitr — will be on Monday, March 31.

Astronomical calculations

The National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics in Egypt also confirmed that the crescent moon of Shawwal will be born on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 1pm Cairo time. According to their calculations, the crescent will be visible after sunset in many Arab countries, making it likely that Eid al-Fitr could be observed on Sunday, March 30, 2025.

Moon-sighting committee

However, each country relies on its official moon-sighting committee to make the final call, with the announcement to be made the evening of Saturday, March 29, once the crescent is sighted.

The Egyptian institute also forecast that the Shawwal crescent will remain visible in the sky over Mecca for seven minutes after sunset. If sighted on the night of March 29, Ramadan will end after 29 days, with Eid al-Fitr falling on Sunday, March 30. If the crescent is not visible, Ramadan will extend to 30 days, and Eid will be celebrated on Monday, March 31.

Eid al-Fitr holidays in the UAE

The UAE’s official holiday calendar outlines a potential four- or five-day Eid al-Fitr holiday in 2025, with the final duration dependent on the crescent moon sighting.

How it works

If Ramadan lasts 29 days: Eid will begin on Sunday, March 30, with a four-day holiday running from Saturday to Tuesday.

If Ramadan lasts 30 days: Eid will begin on Monday, March 31, extending the public holiday from Saturday to Wednesday, for a five-day break.

The exact length of the holiday will be confirmed following the moon sighting on the evening of March 29, 2025.