Ramadan or Ramzan is the ninth month that falls in the Islamic lunar calendar. It is the holy month of spiritual reflection, forgiveness, gratitude and celebration. The sighting of the crescent moon marks the commencement of this auspicious Muslim festival across the world.

The holy month of Ramadan will begin on March 1, after the crescent Moon was spotted in the UAE. The sighting signals the start of the next month according to the Hijri calendar, implying that the month of Shaban will end at 29 days.

The United Arab Emirates Council for Fatwa has called for crescent moon sightings by UAE residents ahead of Ramadan on Friday8