Ramadan in UAE: Moon sighted; holy month to start on March 1

The holy month of Ramadan will begin on March 1, after the crescent Moon was spotted in the UAE.

The sighting signals the start of the next month according to the Hijri calendar, implying that the month of Shaban will end at 29 days. Islamic months in the Hijri calendar last up to 29 or 30 days.

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During the first few days of the holy month, residents will be able to fast with comparative ease as they will enjoy pleasant weather across the country. In a forecast released by the National Council of Meteorology, the authority has predicted light rainfall and cloudy skies in the coming few days.

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As reported earlier by Khaleej Times, fasting hours this year will be shorter as compared to 2024. Last year, the fasting hours varied from 13 hours and 16 minutes to almost 14 hours. This year, hours are expected to vary between 12 hours and 58 minutes to 13 hours and 13 minutes.

Shorter timings, flexible hours

Private sector employees in the UAE will work 2.5 hours less during the holy month. Government employees, however, will work 3.5 hours less from Monday to Thursday and 1.5 hours less on Friday.

Dubai has also offered flexible work to its government employees on Fridays — provided they work for five-and-a-half hours from Monday to Thursday.

Schools across the country have also adjusted their hours, with public school students having the option to choose from online and in-person learning on Fridays. Dubai has extended the same option to private schools as well.

Supermarkets and other retail stores have announced massive discounts ahead of the holy month for shoppers to make the most by buying in bulk. This includes hypermarkets, home furnishing firms, electronics retailers and automobile distributors.

Ramadan holds profound significance for Muslims worldwide, and while living in a multicultural hub like the UAE, it is imperative for individuals to respect the religious sentiments of those observing fasts.

Some basic etiquettes should be kept in mind, such as not engaging in aggressive behaviour, not dancing or playing music loudly in public and not wearing inappropriate clothing in public. For the full list of rules, click here.