Look: Muharram crescent sighted in UAE during daytime as new Islamic year begins

<p>As the first month of the Islamic calendar — Muharram — begins for the lunar year 1448 AH, the <a href="https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/hijri-new-year-which-islamic-countries-will-sight-muharram-crescent-on-june-15">crescent was spotted</a> by the UAE's Astronomy Centre during the daytime on Monday, June 15. </p><p>The crescent was captured in Abu Dhabi by the Khatm Astronomical Observatory at 11am. </p><p>In the photo captured by the observatory team, the moon was 5.4 degrees away from the sun and its age was 5 hours and 35 minutes. </p><p><strong><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va5dROu3bbUxk7Jh2503" rel="sponsored noopener noreferrer">Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.</a></strong></p><p>Residents in the UAE got to enjoy a <a href="https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-announces-hijri-new-year-holiday-for-public-and-private-sectors-on-june-15">long weekend</a> once again as the government announced a public holiday on Monday, June 15, for the start of the new Islamic year. For some residents who usually observe weekends on Saturday and Sunday, this meant a <a href="https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/dubai-islamic-new-year-holiday-hijri?_refresh=true">3-day holiday</a>. </p><p>Meanwhile in Sharjah, government employees and students enjoyed a four-day holiday with normal weekends falling on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for them. </p><p>The Islamic, or Hijri calendar is based on lunar months, and the New Year begins on the first day of Muharram, which is determined by the sighting of the moon. Each month in the Hijri calendar lasts either 29 or 30 days. </p><p>All<strong><a href="https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/transport/abu-dhabi-announces-free-parking-no-toll-charges-for-islamic-new-year?_refresh=true">&nbsp;</a></strong><a href="https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/dubai-motorists-to-get-6-day-free-parking-for-eid-al-adha-2026">public parking in Dubai has been made free of charge</a><strong><a href="https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/dubai-motorists-to-get-6-day-free-parking-for-eid-al-adha-2026">&nbsp;</a></strong>on Monday, June 15, except for multi-storey parking facilities as part of the Hijri New Year public holiday. Standard parking tariffs will resume on Tuesday, June 16. </p><aside><a href="https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/hijri-new-year-which-islamic-countries-will-sight-muharram-crescent-on-june-15">Hijri New Year: Which Islamic countries will sight Muharram crescent on June 15?</a></aside><aside><a href="https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-announces-hijri-new-year-holiday-for-public-and-private-sectors-on-june-15">UAE announces Hijri New Year holiday for public and private sectors</a></aside><aside><a href="https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/dubai-islamic-new-year-holiday-hijri">3-day break: Dubai Government announces Islamic New Year holiday</a></aside>