Sat Mar 22 10:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Eid al-Fitr Date Uncertain as Crescent Moon Remains Invisible Across Arab World

**Dubai, UAE** – The International Astronomy Centre (IAC) has announced that the Shawwal crescent moon, signifying the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid al-Fitr, will be impossible to see across all Arab and Islamic countries on Saturday, March 29, 2025. This is due to the moon setting before sunset or the conjunction occurring after sunset, rendering it invisible even with telescopes or astrophotography.

The IAC’s statement, shared on X (formerly Twitter), confirmed that only parts of central and northern America might offer a very difficult telescopic view, with naked-eye visibility potentially limited to areas of the Pacific Ocean west of the United States. A map accompanying the statement visually illustrated the lack of visibility across the predominantly Muslim world.

The invisibility is further supported by a partial solar eclipse occurring over parts of North Africa (Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia) on the same day.

This astronomical confirmation means Ramadan will last 30 days for countries like the UAE, which rely on crescent moon sightings to determine the start of the new month. Therefore, Eid al-Fitr is expected to fall on Monday, March 31st in these regions. However, some countries may celebrate Eid on Sunday, March 30th, based on local traditions and interpretations.

The announcement has significant religious implications, as Shawwal is the tenth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and marks the start of Eid al-Fitr, a major religious celebration following the month-long fast of Ramadan.

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