According to Khaleej Times, this news was announced by Ibrahim Al Jarwan, the deputy director general of the Sharjah Center for Astronomy & Space Sciences.

He said the new moon that ushers in the new month of Ramadan will be  ‘born’ on Tuesday, May 13, adding that Eid Al Fitr is likely to be on June 15, 2018.

In his words, “The new moon of the Holy Month of Ramadan is to be ‘born’ on Tuesday, May 13 around 3.48 pm UAE time, and disappears two minutes before sunset of the same evening."

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“It shall remain visible for one hour and 16 minutes at sunset. As such, Thursday, May 17, shall be the first day of Ramadan as per the astronomical calculations.”

Al Jarwan adds that the new moon of the lunar month of Shawwal which follows Ramadan will appear on Wednesday, June 13.

“It shall be monitored after the sunset of Thursday, June 14, and be definitely seen on Friday, June 15, and that will be the first day of Eid Al Fitr as per the astronomical calculations,” he said.