Ramadan 2024 moon sighting date in Saudi, UAE and India; know when fast will begin and its significance for businesses

Ramadan 2024 moon sighting today in Saudi and UAE and India: The start of Ramadan or Ramzan, the Islamic holy month in which Muslims are required to fast from dawn to dusk, depends on the sighting of the crescent moon.

Since the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, a month is either 29 or 30 days long. Therefore, Muslims in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other parts of the Middle East have been called upon to look for the crescent moon on March 10, which corresponds to the 29th day of the Islamic month of Shaba'an (the month preceding Ramadan) to look for the crescent moon.

When will Ramadan fasting begin?

If the crescent moon is sighted on March 10 in the Middle East, then Ramadan fasting will begin on March 11. If the moon is not sighted on March 10, then the fasting will start from March 12 in the region.

In India, Pakistan and other parts of the subcontinent, the lunar cycle of the Islamic calendar is a day later as compared to the Middle East. Therefore, the crescent moon sighting would be attempted on March 11, which corresponds to Shaba'an 29 in this part of the world. If the crescent moon is sighted, then the Ramadan fasting will begin from March 12 in the Indian subcontinent. If the crescent moon is not sighted, then the Ramadan fasting will begin from March 13.

Significance for businesses during Ramadan

Ramadan, which is followed by the celebrations of Eid, leads to a spurt in expenditure on food, clothing and other accessories in Muslim-majority countries.

The consumption of chicken, bread and dried fruits jumps by an average of 66.5%, 63% and 25%, respectively, as against the other months of the year, according to the HLB Global Advisory survey.

With India home to the world's second largest Muslim population, the holy month is seen as crucial for several businesses.

Hamdard, the company that manufactures Roohafza—the iconic refreshment drink used in the Indian subcontinent to break the fast—sees a massive spike in sales during the holy month.

The demand for dates, nuts and other dry fruits also meteorically jumps during the month.

With Ramadan falling in the period of summer for the past few years, the demand for seasonal fruits including watermelon, guava, muskmelon, etc. also picks up during the month.

In neighbouring Pakistan and Bangladesh, the Ramadan and Eid economy is comparable with the businesses generated in India during the festive period of Dussehra and Diwali.

In the Middle East, several companies alter their operational timings to adjust to the fasting hours. The restrictions are higher in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman, and relatively lower in Turkey and the UAE, where a bulk of the multinational companies are based. The Emirates, notably, is also home to a significantly large number of non-Muslim immigrants who are not bound by any kind of curbs during the month.

In countries like Lebanon, where close to half of the population adheres to other faiths including Christianity, the restrictions on operational hours for businesses are not far-reaching.

The timing of Ramadan, which comes earlier by 10-12 days each year as per the Gregorian calendar, is also crucial for economies that rely on tourists. For example, in Morocco, which is flocked by scores of Europeans throughout the holiday season, the restrictions on bars and restaurants during the daytime can dampen the business. The impact on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) hospitality industry could be adverse during Ramadan, analysts point out, citing the daytime restrictions and reduced labour participation.