Eid al-Fitr 2025 Expected Start Date and Holiday Announcements in the Gulf Countries
Eid al-Fitr 2025 is expected to start on March 30, as per Qatar’s astronomical calculations. The UAE announced a holiday from March 30 to April 1 for private sector employees, while Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have also outlined holiday plans based on the moon sighting. The official date will be confirmed closer to Ramadan’s end.
The Qatar Calendar House has projected that Eid al-Fitr will commence on March 30, 2025, based on astronomical calculations. Executive Director Faisal Al Ansari stated that the crescent moon indicating the start of Shawwal will appear on the evening of March 29 at 1:58 PM Doha time (10:58 AM GMT). However, the official date remains subject to confirmation by the Crescent Sighting Committee under the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs.
In the UAE, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization has declared a holiday from Sunday, March 30, to Tuesday, April 1, 2025, for private sector employees to observe Eid al-Fitr. Should Ramadan end on its 30th day, the break would extend to April 2. The federal government sector will observe a holiday from the 1st to 3rd of Shawwal, resuming work on the 4th of Shawwal, potentially leading to an extended public holiday if Ramadan has 30 days.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced a four-day holiday for Eid al-Fitr from March 30 to April 2, enabling private sector employees a total of six days off, including the weekend.
Kuwait plans a three-day public sector holiday for Eid al-Fitr starting March 30, assuming Eid begins on that date, with work resuming on April 2. If Eid starts on March 31, however, employees will have a nine-day holiday, inclusive of two weekends.
Eid al-Fitr’s official date remains unconfirmed, pending the moon’s sighting, which dictates the end of Ramadan. The UAE moon-sighting committee is expected to announce the official date shortly before Ramadan concludes. If Ramadan lasts 30 days, combined with existing holidays, UAE residents will enjoy a four or five-day holiday, depending on the sighting.
Eid al-Fitr 2025 is anticipated to start on March 30, according to the Qatar Calendar House, but the final date will be determined by moon sighting. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait have each declared specific holiday plans contingent on the Ramadan cycle, ranging from three to six days off. The official holiday schedule remains to be confirmed by local authorities shortly before the conclusion of Ramadan.
Original Source: economymiddleeast.com
