The Abu-Dhabi based International Astronomical Center (IAC) announced on Wednesday that new moon of the lunar month of Shawwal shall be observed after sunset on June 14, Thursday, the last day of the holy Month of Ramadan. This means that Eid Al Fitr will be heralded on June 15, marking the first day of the three-day celebration. Most Muslim countries will be sighting the moon on June 14 for the first day of the month of Shawwal, the center said. In most of the Arab world, the crescent moon cannot be easily seen with the naked eye except for in the far western regions of southern Morocco, Mauritania, and west Africa, according to the IAC. The crescent moon will be visible by telescope in east and southeast Asian countries and Europe. Most of the Americas will be able to see the crescent moon with the naked eye. In Egypt, Dar El-Eftaa is the authority responsible for the Hijri (lunar) calendar. It is set to initially sight Shawwal's moon on 14 June. Egypt started the first day of Ramadan on Thursday 17 May, alongwith Saudi Arabia, UAE and most of the Islamic and Arab countries.
