Astronomers in the United Arab Emirates have successfully captured the crescent moon marking the start of Zilqad 1447 AH in broad daylight, offering a rare astronomical observation from Abu Dhabi.
The crescent moon was photographed on Saturday morning by the International Astronomy Center. The image was taken at 10am UAE time from the Khatm Astronomical Observatory, reports Gulf news.
According to observatory data, the moon was located 11.7 degrees away from the sun and had an age of 16.5 hours at the time of capture.
Astronomer Mohammed Awda took the photograph with support from observatory team members Khalafan Al-Naimi, Osama Ghanem, and Anas Muhammad.
The sighting coincides with growing anticipation over key upcoming dates in the Islamic calendar, which may offer UAE residents an extended holiday next month.
When is Eid-ul-Azha in the UAE?
Astronomical projections suggest that Eid-ul-Azha is likely to begin on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, while the Day of Arafah is expected to fall on Tuesday, May 26.
These estimates were provided by Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Astronomical Society and a member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences.
The Day of Arafah marks the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage and is regarded as one of the most significant days in the Islamic calendar.
However, as with all Islamic occasions, the final dates will depend on official moon sighting announcements.
