UAE confirms start of Rabi Al Awwal on August 25 after crescent not sighted

Rabi Al Awwal will begin on Monday in the UAE, a day later than several other Arab nations, setting different start dates across countries for the Islamic month that holds the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday

The UAE's astronomy centre has confirmed that the crescent moon marking the start of Rabi Al Awwal was not sighted on Saturday, August 23.

As a result, the current Islamic month of Safar will complete 30 days, and Rabi Al Awwal will officially begin on Monday, August 25, 1447 AH in the Hijri calendar.Efforts to observe the moon were conducted using a range of tools — including telescopes and ultra-high-resolution astronomical imaging — but the crescent remained invisible from all regions within the Arab world on Saturday.This celestial observation also sets the date for the 12th day of Rabi Al Awwal — a significant date marking the birth of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

In the UAE, this will fall on Friday, September 5. Though no formal announcement has been made yet, this timing may potentially lead to a three-day public holiday for residents, aligning with the weekend.

In an uncommon development, the UAE will not be aligning with Saudi Arabia and several other nations in beginning Rabi Al Awwal on the same day.Countries where Rabi Al Awwal began on Sunday, August 24:

In these countries, the crescent moon was visible on Sunday — in some regions easily with the naked eye, and in northern parts of Asia, with more difficulty.

Countries beginning Rabi Al Awwal on Monday, August 25:

This divergence in moon sighting dates, though not unprecedented, reflects the geographical and atmospheric variations affecting lunar visibility.

Two days before the official confirmation, on Friday, August 22, astronomers at Al-Khatim Astronomical Observatory managed to photograph the crescent marking the end of Safar 1447 AH. Despite dusty skies and partial cloud cover, the team captured the crescent — though visibility remained limited, and the precise start of Rabi Al Awwal could not be determined conclusively at that time.The UAE follows a systematic process for confirming the start of each Islamic month. On the 29th day of every Hijri month, the national moon sighting committee convenes to observe and verify the appearance of the new crescent. The Islamic (Hijri) calendar is based entirely on lunar cycles, and the beginning of each month is dependent on the first visible sighting of the crescent moon.

Rabi Al Awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar, holds special significance in the Muslim world as it marks the birth of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The 12th day of this month is commemorated in many countries with prayers, community gatherings, and — in some cases — public holidays.As the Hijri calendar is approximately 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, Islamic dates shift earlier each year. This dynamic nature adds complexity to planning and alignment of religious observances, particularly in countries that rely on precise astronomical data rather than pre-calculated calendars.