The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has declared that Eid-ul-Fitr will begin on Friday (April 21) after experts sighted the new moon, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Thursday night.
The announcement on Thursday evening was made by the kingdom's Supreme Court calling for people to head out to try and sight the moon from Thursday evening.
Experts gathered at Sudair and Tamir astronomical observatories in the kingdom at around 5 pm on Thursday evening to set up telescopes and sighting equipment to look for the moon.
The kingdom's International Astronomy Center said countries that are satisfied with mathematical calculations of lunar cycles and do not require a specific sighting of the crescent moon could follow Saudi Arabia in holding Eid on Friday even if unfavourable conditions meant it was not visible in person.
Those that required a physical sighting of the crescent moon could wait until Saturday, it said.
