Eid Al Fitr 2020: When will Ramadan end in the UAE?

The exact date will depend on whether the moon-sighting committee decrees Ramadan to last 29 or 30 days

The cannon firing to mark the breaking of the fast at Maghrib sunset prayers at Burj Khalifa, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The sun rises over Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque on the first morning of Ramadan. Mosques remain closed. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The cannon firing to mark the breaking of the fast at Maghrib sunset prayers at Burj Khalifa, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The cannon firing to mark the breaking of the fast at Maghrib sunset prayers at Burj Khalifa, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The sun rises over Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque on the first morning of Ramadan. Mosques remain closed. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A canon is fired to mark the breaking of the fast at Maghrib sunset prayers at the Umm Al Emarat Park in Abu Dhabi on the first day of Ramadan. Victor Besa / The National

A canon is fired to mark the breaking of the fast at Maghrib sunset prayers at the Umm Al Emarat Park in Abu Dhabi on the first day of Ramadan. Victor Besa / The National

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on a beautiful sunny day on the first day of Ramadan. Victor Besa / The National

Dubai Police officers get ready to fire the cannon on the first day of Ramadan to break the fast at the Al Mankhool area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A Dubai Police officer gets ready to fire the cannon on the first day of Ramadan to break the fast at the Al Mankhool area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Dubai Police officers firing the cannon on the first day of Ramadan to break the fast at the Al Mankhool area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Some shops in Satwa are open for business after Dubai eased restrictions for Ramadan. Leslie Pableo for The National

A father and his daughter cross the street to get to the Abu Dhabi Central Bus Terminal during the first morning of Ramadan. Victor Besa / The National

Sheikh Zayed Road is still very quite on the first morning of eased restrictions on personal travel. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A pedestrian walks pass a bus stop at downtown Abu Dhabi during the Coronavirus epidemic. Victor Besa / The National

A barber shop in Satwa is busy with customers. Leslie Pableo for The National

Eid Al Fitr is a key date in the Islamic calendar as it marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting.

On the eve of the 30th day of Ramadan, the moon-sighting committee, which was responsible for sighting the crescent moon to indicate the start of the holy month, reconvenes to look for the new crescent moon that signals the beginning of a new month. If they spot the new moon, the following morning will be announced as the first day of Shawwal — Eid Al Fitr.

When will Eid Al Fitr fall in 2020?

The holy month lasts between 29 to 30 days, depending on the moon sighting.

Ramadan this year began on April 24 in most Islamic countries. So, that means Eid Al Fitr, which translates from Arabic to the 'festival of breaking the fast', will likely begin on either Saturday, May 23, or Sunday, May 24.

The moon-sighting committee will likely begin searching for a new moon cycle on the night of Friday May 22, after maghrib prayers. If they spot the new moon, Eid Al Fitr will begin the next day. If not, Eid will begin on Sunday instead — meaning Ramadan will have lasted 30 days.

According to the list of public holidays released by the UAE Cabinet for this year, the Eid holiday will begin on the 29th day of Ramadan and last until Shawwal 3. This means, regardless of when Eid falls, the holiday is expected to begin from Friday May 22 and last until either Tuesday May 25 or Wednesday May 26 - depending on the length of Ramadan.

Holidays used to differ for public and private sector workers but these were unified by the government last year.

How is Eid celebrated in the UAE?

On the first day of Eid, Muslims wake up just before dawn to perform Eid prayers at mosques.

During Eid, Muslims tend to wear new clothes and visit family and friends. This year's celebrations are expected to be muted, with mosques still closed and gatherings limited to no more than five people in homes, as part of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Celebrations typically last for three days. In recent years, it became common practice to travel during Eid but, this year, no one will be able to travel because flights have been grounded.

For more information on the UAE's public holidays, visit this page.