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The holy month of Ramadan is expected to begin on February 8, 2027, according to astronomical calculations by experts in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Gulf News reported that Ibrahim Al Jarwan, chairman of the board of the Emirates Astronomical Society and a member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, said the first day of fasting could fall on Monday, February 8.
Al Jarwan said the new moon was born at around 7:50pm UAE time on Saturday. The crescent marking the beginning of Jumada al-Awwal, the fifth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, may be visible to the naked eye on Sunday evening, making October 12 the likely first day of the month.
However, the official start of Ramadan will be determined through the customary moon-sighting process, in accordance with religious practice.
Based on astronomical projections, Ramadan in 2027 may last 29 or 30 days. Eid-ul-Fitr could therefore fall on March 9 or 10.
Al Jarwan noted that the Islamic lunar calendar is based on the natural phases of the Moon, allowing months to be determined through crescent observations.
Meanwhile, the Sharjah Space and Astronomy Hub, affiliated with the University of Sharjah, offered a different assessment of the visibility of the new crescent. It said the Moon would be difficult to observe with the naked eye or ordinary telescopes after sunset on Sunday, although advanced astrophotography equipment might detect it before sunset.
According to the centre, countries that rely primarily on astronomical calculations may begin Jumada al-Awwal on October 12, while those requiring visual crescent sightings may start the month on October 13.
The centre said the lunar conjunction over Sharjah occurred at 8:47pm local time on Saturday.
Source: Gulf News