The countries’ religious authorities have not commented on the issue yet as Muslim countries usually use sighting of a young moon by naked eye to mark the beginning of Ramadan.
According to sauidati.net website, Khaled al-Zuaq, a member of Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, said astronomical calculation show that the month of Shaaban will have 30 days this year and the last day of Shaaban will be Thursday, April 23.
Therefore, he said, Friday, April 24, will be the first day of Ramadan.
Jaad al-Qadhi, head of Egypt’s Astronomy Sciences of Egypt, also said Shaaban will have 30 days and Ramadan will begin on April 24.
He added that the last day of Ramadan will be May 23 and Eid al-Fitr will fall on May 24.