RIYADH: Saudi Arabia announced it will start the Muslim holy month of Ramazan on Saturday.

“Tomorrow, Saturday, will be the first day of the blessed month of Ramazan,” the kingdom said on Friday, in a statement carried by the official SPA news agency.

Traditionally, many Muslim-majority countries have followed dates set by Saudi religious authorities, but in recent years many have used their own astronomic calculations.

Four other Arab countries of the Gulf, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE, have also announced the Saturday start of Ramazan, while Oman said it is expected to begin a day later.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2022