UAE: One Month to Ramadan 2025 as Sha’ban Start Date Revealed

Ramadan 2025 Countdown Begins with Sha’ban Crescent Date Announcement

Dubai: According to Ibrahim Al Jarwan, President of the Emirates Astronomical Society, the crescent of the month of Shaban, the eighth month in the Islamic lunar calendar, will be formed after the sun and moon align on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 4:46 pm.

However, Al Jarwan clarified that the crescent moon will not be visible that night as it is still not visible. Clear visibility is expected on Thursday, January 30, 2025, the following evening.

With just a month left until the start of the holy month, astronomical calculations show that Shaban will formally begin on Friday, January 31, marking the start of the countdown to Ramadan.

An official moon-sighting committee will decide when Ramadan, which is observed by Muslims worldwide, will begin. Because it marks the anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) revelation of the Quran, this ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar is of great religious significance. Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset every day during the month of Ramadan, performing additional prayers, self-reflection and charity.

To give workers enough time for fasting, prayer and family gatherings, labor regulations in the UAE have reduced the usual eight-hour workday to six hours during Ramadan. The country welcomes this spiritual time with unique programs, community events and religious celebrations that honor its rich cultural and religious heritage.