UAE announces Friday as first day of Eid Al Fitr

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Eid Al Fitr will start Friday, April 21 following the sighting of the crescent moon on Thursday evening, the UAE Moon-sighting Committee announced in a statement issued after its meeting.

Abdullah bin Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, Minister of Justice and Chairman of the Committee, said that after exhausting the sharia methods of sighting the crescent and making the necessary contacts with neighbouring countries, they succeeded in sighting the Shawwal month crescent on Thursday evening, and declared Thursday, April 20 as the last day of Ramadan 1444, and Friday, April 21 as the first day of Eid Al Fitr.

The minister and members of the committee extended warm congratulations on the glorious occasion to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates, and the Crown Princes.

They also congratulated the UAE people and Muslims across the world on the auspicious occasion.

This means the holiday break for public and private sectors will run until Sunday. Normal working hours will resume on Monday, April 24.

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