Riyadh: Several Arab and Islamic countries will welcome the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on Wednesday, while others will start fasting a day later. Saudi Arabia announced that the new moon of Ramadan was sighted Tuesday evening, marking the start of fasting on Wednesday.

According to Anadolu Agency, religious authorities in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Palestine, Sudan, Somalia, and Djibouti have also confirmed that Wednesday will be the first day of Ramadan. Iraq's Sunni Endowment Diwan, Iraqi Shiites, and Yemen's Houthi group declared that Ramadan will commence in their regions on Wednesday. Sunni Muslims in Lebanon will begin observing Ramadan on Wednesday, as stated by Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian.

Meanwhile, Egypt will observe the holy month of Ramadan on Thursday, as the new moon was not sighted on Tuesday, according to the country's grand mufti, Nazir Ayyad. Religious authorities in Jordan, Syria, Indonesia, Pakistan, Iran, Tunisia, Algeria, and Malaysia also announced that the start of Ramadan will be Thursday. Muslims in Trkiye, Oman, Singapore, and Australia will commence fasting on Thursday, based on astronomical calculations.

Morocco and Mauritania will conduct moon sightings on Wednesday to determine the start of Ramadan. While some countries rely on local moon sightings, others are increasingly turning to astronomical calculations, particularly when scientific data indicates that visual observation is not feasible. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.