SAUDI Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have announced that Hari Raya Aidilfitri will be celebrated on Friday, March 20, following the completion of Ramadan on Thursday.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Royal Court of Saudi Arabia said the Supreme Court had determined that Thursday, March 19, would mark the final day of Ramadan, with 1 Syawal falling the next day, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
A similar announcement was made by the UAE Presidential Court, which confirmed that Thursday would be the last day of the holy month.
The decision was based on the findings of the Syawal moon-sighting committee, which convened in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday evening and reviewed observations from across the country. The crescent moon was not sighted that night.
Qatar’s Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs also declared Thursday as the 30th and final day of Ramadan, with Hari Raya to be observed on Friday.
The announcement followed a meeting of its moon-sighting committee at the ministry’s headquarters on Wednesday night, corresponding to the 29th day of Ramadan.
As preparations intensify in Malaysia, the excitement of balik kampung is building, with many families making early arrangements to reunite with loved ones.
Rosma Nora Abdul Satar is among those looking forward to returning to her hometown in Kelantan after a long absence.
The Star reported that she and her husband, Abdul Rahman Abdul Latif, have been saving since last year to ensure they can celebrate Hari Raya there.
Abdul Rahman, 42, who works at an automotive factory, said the family, based in Rawang, would be travelling to his wife’s family home as she wished to visit her ailing mother.
He added that Rosma Nora supplements the household income by selling instant sambal and cakes, helping to cover travel costs and festive expenses, including new clothes for their five children.
“My wife will be able to gather with her siblings in Kelantan on the first day of Hari Raya. We also plan to cook together.
“The important thing is we are spending time with relatives we haven’t seen for a long time, especially those who are elderly and unwell. This is the best time to see them because we don’t know what the future holds.”
Abdul Rahman said the celebration also provides an opportunity to reconnect with extended family members living in other parts of the country.
For single mother Fatimah Abidin, 32, the journey home involves air travel. She will be flying from Kuala Lumpur to Penang with her five-year-old daughter to celebrate with relatives, including grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
“My family and I will prepare dishes, such as our special checkers cake, beef serunding, nasi impit and lontong,” said the diplomatic mission staff.
Fatimah emphasised the importance of passing down family values to younger generations.
“For me, Hari Raya is a time for forgiveness and appreciation of all the blessings that we have.”
Meanwhile, journalist Zeanaaima Mohd Yusof, 41, from Klang, will be working on the first day of Hari Raya this year, opting instead to take a longer break afterwards.
The couple will then travel to Taiping in Perak and Kuala Sanglang in Perlis to visit her husband’s relatives.
“Every year, my husband’s family holds a gathering with his extended family called CCTA (Cucu-Cucu Tok Aluih or Tok Aluih’s grandchildren).
“It’s an annual event that brings together hundreds of relatives in one place,” she said. - March 19, 2026
