Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
The Shawwāl Crescent Sighting Committee 1446 AH will convene its meeting on Saturday evening, March 29, 2025 (29 Ramaḍan 1446 AH), at the historic Al-Hosn site in Abu Dhabi.
The meeting will be chaired by His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, President of the UAE Council for Fatwa, and His Excellency Dr Omar Habtoor Al Darei, Vice President of the Council, with the participation of experts in the fields of Sharīʿah, astronomy and law.
The council selected the historic Al-Hosn landmark as the location for the committee's meeting, drawing inspiration from its national and cultural significance and its position as a centre for official, national, and religious events in the history of the UAE.
Five advanced national observatories, strategically distributed across the country, have been equipped with the latest smart technologies.
The observatories include: Al-Khatim Astronomical Observatory (Marṣad al-Khatim al-Falakī), Jabal Hafeet Observatory (Marṣad Jabal Ḥafīt), Dubai Crescent Observatory (Marṣad Dubayy li-l-Ahilla), Sharjah Astronomical Observatory (Marṣad al-Shāriqa al-Falakī) and Ras Al Khaimah Observatory (Marṣad Rās al-Khaimah).
These observatories will ensure the accuracy of the sighting process the highest levels of efficiency in observation.
In a move that enhances institutional integration, coordination has been established with several astronomical centres and agencies across the country through strategic partnerships and cooperation agreements aimed at exchanging expertise and strengthening the governance of the observation system, in line with the UAE’s leadership in this field.
The committee has invited all members of the community, particularly those known as al-Shuwayfah (traditional crescent moon sighters), to participate in the crescent moon sighting after sunset on the 29th day of Ramaḍan and to submit their testimonies to the committee via official communication channels.
In a significant technological advancement, several drones will be deployed from Al-Khatim Astronomical Observatory, which are equipped with high-precision lenses that will rise more than 300 metres above ground, directed toward the location of the moon based on precise astronomical calculations.
This approach, which the council will deploy for the second consecutive time, aims to overcome challenges that may obstruct visual sighting and ensure the atmospheric clarity needed for accurate observation.
Additionally, innovative AI-powered technologies will be used to analyse images, process data, and determine the location of the crescent's birth and the possibility of its visibility with precision.
Comprehensive media coverage will accompany these efforts to document the observation process, highlight community participation, and showcasing the UAE’s leadership in organising and sighting the crescent in accordance with the highest standards.
