Eid Al Fitr is expected to fall on Friday, 20 March.

Astronomical calculations indicate that Ramadan this year will complete the full thirty days, with Eid Al Fitr expected to fall on Friday, 20 March, according to Dr Waheeb Al Nasser, Professor of Applied Physics and Vice President of the Bahraini Astronomical Society. 

Dr Al Nasser explained that committees responsible for sighting the Shawwal crescent across the Gulf will meet on the evening of Wednesday, 18 March, which marks the 29th day of Ramadan, in line with the Prophetic tradition of visually confirming the new moon.

However, he noted that the astronomical conjunction marking the birth of the Shawwal crescent will occur at 4:25 a.m. Mecca time on Thursday, 19 March, meaning the moon will not yet be present in the sky at sunset on Wednesday. Consequently, Thursday is expected to complete the thirtieth day of Ramadan.

The crescent is predicted to appear clearly on Thursday evening in Bahrain after sunset. It will rise to around six degrees above the western horizon and remain visible for approximately thirty minutes, which are conditions suitable for astronomical observation.

Dr Al Nasser added that observations of the moon’s position during the full moon phase earlier in Ramadan also suggested the month would reach thirty days. On 3 March, the moon appeared extremely low at sunset, rising only about half a degree above the horizon.

He also noted that fasting hours in Bahrain this week reach approximately 13 hours and 24 minutes.

Ramadan this year falls within one of the most temperate periods of the lunar cycle, which spans roughly 32 years. The moderate weather during February and March has made fasting conditions relatively comfortable, echoing the winter atmosphere in which the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, observed the early Ramadans of Islam.