The new moon of the lunar month of Zul Hijjah is expected to be on August 1.

Eid Al Adha is likely to fall on Sunday, August 11, according to the International Astronomical Centre (IAC) in Abu Dhabi.

Eng Mohammed Shawkat, Director of the Centre, said there will be no dispute over the sighting of the Helal or new moon of the lunar month of Zul Hijjah.

"Most Arab and Islamic centres will be able to easily and clearly see the new moon of Zul Hijjah by naked eyes and telescopes," he said.

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As is the case every year, Saudi Arabia will announce the sighting of the new moon of Zul Hijjah and "most countries will approve this sighting which is linked to the season of Haj or pilgrimage."



He added that most Arab and Muslim countries will sight the Helal of Zul Hijjah on Thursday, August 1, 2019.

"All these countries will be able to sight the new moon after the sunset by telescopes and even naked eyes at some regions."

It's worth mentioning that the new moon of Zul Hijjah last year was sighted on Sunday, 12 August, 2018, while the Eid Al Adha fell on Tuesday, August 21 last year.

Echoing the same, Ibrahim Al Jarwan, member of the Arab Union for Space and Astronomy Sciences (Auas), said the new moon of the lunar month of Zul Hijjah, the season of Haj or Pilgrimage, is expected to be on Thursday, August 1, around 7:11am.

"It will disappear 28 minutes after the sunset."

"Therefore, the first day of the month of Zul Hijjah is predicted to fall on Friday, August 2, and Eid Al Adha will be on Sunday, August 11," Al Jarwan said.



As per by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources list of holidays, Arafat (Haj) day, expected to fall on Saturday, August 10, will be a holiday.

The three days that follow, Sunday, August 11 to 13, will be an official holiday for both private and public sector employees.

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com