Ramadan 2024: Everything to know about date, fasting hours, public holidays

With fewer than two months to go until the holy month of Ramadan begins, Muslims all around the world will soon be getting ready for it.

Muslims everywhere fast from sunrise to sunset throughout the month of Ramadan, abstaining from food and liquids. Iftars, or breaks from fast, typically highlight a feeling of community and compassion for the less fortunate according to Al Arabiya.

In 2024, Ramadan is anticipated to start on March 11 or thereabouts, with different countries having varied fasting schedules. This year, the range is anticipated to be between 12 and more hours.

Places with the longest fasting hours (between 15 and 18 hours)

1. Nuuk, Greenland.

2. Reykjavik, Iceland.

3. Helsinki, Finland.

4. Glasgow, Scotland.

5. Ottawa, Canada.

6. London, United Kingdom.

7. Paris, France.

8. Zurich, Switzerland.

9. Rome, Italy.

10. Madrid, Spain.

Places with short fasting hours (between 12 to 14 hours)

1. Christchurch, New Zealand.

2. Puerto Montt, Chile.

3. Jakarta, Indonesia.

4. Nairobi, Kenya.

5. Karachi, Pakistan.

6. New Delhi, India.

Middle East and Gulf regions

Depending on the location, the range of fasting hours throughout the Middle East and the Gulf region, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, will probably be between 13 and 15 hours.

Ramadan during winter

Ramadan 2024 will begin in the winter of this year. The Emirates Astronomy Society's Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ibrahim al-Jarwan, states that the winter season started on December 22 and will end on March 20.

The end of the Holy month, Eid al-Fitr, is anticipated to occur on or around April 10. Workers in the public and private sectors in nations with a majority of Muslims will be able to take time off work to commemorate the occasion.

But closer to the day, the Saudi Arabian Moon-sighting Commission usually verifies the exact beginning of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.

Public holidays in Saudi Arabia and UAE

Although there isn't a public holiday in Ramadan, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr to mark the conclusion of the fasting month.

In honour of the Muslim festival, Saudi Arabia declared a four-day public holiday last year, giving private and nonprofit organisations five days off from work.

This year, people in Muslim nations should anticipate a comparable number of days off, which will be disclosed closer to the event.