The exact start of Ramadan is often up in the air until just before the holiday begins because it is determined by a sighting of the new moon. Many places still depend on someone seeing the new moon with the naked eye in order to declare the holiday. As a result, Ramadan’s start can vary from place to place because of weather conditions and other factors that affect how easily the moon is seen.
However, countries are increasingly relying on astronomical calculations and observatories, leading to a more uniform start time. The Arab Gulf states, as well as Egypt, have declared Wednesday, July 10, to be the first full day of this year’s Ramadan, according to al-Arabiya.
