Astronomers in the UAE have confirmed the sighting of the crescent moon, signaling the start of the Islamic month of Shaaban on Friday, January 31. This month, which comes just before Ramadan, is a period of spiritual preparation for Muslims worldwide.
The International Astronomy Centre (IAC) in the UAE announced that the crescent was observed on Thursday morning at 9:30 AM from the Al Khatem Astronomical Observatory in Abu Dhabi. According to the observatory team, the moon was 10.5 degrees away from the sun at the time of sighting.
هلال شهر شعبان 1446هـ كما تم تصويره يوم الخميس 30 يناير 2025م من أبوظبي بواسطة مرصد الختم الفلكي. تم الرصد بشكل آلي بالربط عبر الإنترنت مع المرصد الفلكي. بعد القمر عن الشمس 10.5 درجة.
فريق المرصد: أسامة غنام، أنس محمد، خلفان النعيمي، محمد عودة. pic.twitter.com/rp4HPADIBW— مركز الفلك الدولي (@AstronomyCenter) January 30, 2025
Shaaban is the eighth month in the Islamic calendar and plays a crucial role in the lead-up to Ramadan, during which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. Islamic months follow the lunar cycle and last either 29 or 30 days, depending on moon sightings. On the 29th day of Shaaban, committees will gather to confirm the beginning of Ramadan, which is currently expected to start on March 1—though the official date will be determined by the moon sighting.
The first day of Shaaban is set to be observed on January 31 in several countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and other nations across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia.
