Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH - Thursday, May 17, will be the first day of the fasting month of Ramadan this year, the Saudi Supreme Court has announced.

“In the event of not receiving any testimonies about sighting of the Ramadan crescent on Tuesday evening, Ramadan fasting will begin on Thursday," the royal court said in a statement quoting the Supreme Court.

The court held its session on Tuesday evening and reviewed the reports received from different courts that showed that nobody have come up with testimonies of sighting the crescent after sunset.

“In line with the Saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to complete 30 days of Shaban if the crescent was not sighted, the court decides that Wednesday, May 16, will be Shaban 30 and Thursday will be the first day of Ramadan this year,” the Saudi Press Agency reported quoting the statement.

The court sitting, chaired by Ghaihab Bin Muhammad Al-Ghaihab, chief justice, greeted Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman as well as the government and people of Saudi Arabia, including expatriates, and the Muslim world on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan.

Thursday will be the first day of Ramadan in all other Gulf states as well as in many Arab and Muslim countries. They include United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Yemen, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia, Syria, Turkey, Indonesia, and Malaysia, as well as in Russia, Australia, France, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and parts of India.