The Maldives will celebrate Eid al-Fitr on Friday, with Thursday confirmed as the final day of Ramadan, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs announced following the non-sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon.
In an official statement, the Ministry said the new moon was not sighted anywhere in the country in accordance with Shari’ah guidelines, nor were there verified reports of sightings from other Islamic nations. As a result, authorities determined that Ramadan will complete a full 30 days this year.
The Ministry noted that both local observations and international reports confirmed the absence of the crescent, while astronomical data further supported the decision. According to calculations, the moon was not above the horizon at sunset on Wednesday, meaning the criteria required to mark the beginning of a new lunar month were not met.
Under Islamic guidelines followed in the Maldives, a new month begins only if the crescent moon is visible after sunset. Officials explained that although the new moon is expected to be born early Thursday morning at 06:23 AM local time, it will set shortly after sunset, making it observable only from the following day.
The announcement aligns with decisions taken by several countries that began Ramadan on March 11, including Saudi Arabia, where authorities also confirmed that Eid will fall on Friday. Turkey, which relies primarily on astronomical calculations, has likewise set Friday as the first day of Shawwal.
This year’s Eid al-Fitr prayers will be held in large congregations at four designated locations across the Greater Malé Area. These include Maafannu Stadium, Villimalé Football Ground, the synthetic track in Hulhumalé Phase 1, and a vacant area in Hulhumalé Phase 2 near Masjid Hassan Adam.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs announced that Eid prayers will also be conducted at 24 mosques across the Malé region.
All Eid al-Fitr prayers are scheduled to commence at 07:00 AM.
