Safar crescent sighted in UAE, marking start of new Islamic month
Abu Dhabi observatory captures rare daytime image of moon on Friday
Dubai: The International Astronomical Center (IAC) has confirmed the sighting of the crescent moon, signalling the beginning of Safar 1447 AH in the Islamic calendar.
The crescent was captured on Friday, July 25, 2025, at exactly 1:00pm UAE time by the Al Khatim Astronomical Observatory in Abu Dhabi, in what is believed to be the first image of the Safar moon in the Islamic world this year.
According to the IAC, the crescent was photographed when it was approximately 8 degrees away from the sun, making the daytime capture a rare astronomical feat.
The observatory team behind the sighting included Firas Mohammed, Osama Ghannam, Anas Mohammed, Khalfan Al-Nuaimi, and Mohammed Odeh.
The start of Safar follows the lunar Islamic calendar, which is based on the phases of the moon. The successful sighting marks the end of Muharram and the official transition into the second month of the Hijri year.
