Saudi Arabia declared on Friday that Saturday was the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
"Tomorrow, Saturday, will be the first day of the blessed month of Ramadan," the Kingdom said Friday, in a statement carried by the official SPA news agency.
Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE also announced the Saturday start of Ramadan.
The starting date of the dawn-dusk fasting month of Ramadan is determined by both lunar calculations and physical sightings of a new moon.
On the occasion, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz said Ramadan was an opportunity to shun disputes.
Delivering a message on his behalf, acting Media Minister Dr. Majid al-Qasabi said: "God has blessed us with Ramadan after the coronavirus pandemic is on the decline."
"We thank God in the great success we achieved in combating the pandemic and its impact," he added.
He stressed that the Kingdom is honored in welcoming the Umrah and Hajj pilgrims after the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.
