Al Khatm Observatory Captures Dhul Qadah Moon Before Eid Al Adha 2026
UAE astronomers at Al Khatm Astronomical Observatory in Abu Dhabi captured a daytime image of the last quarter moon of Dhul Qadah on Saturday, May 16, at 3.45pm UAE time, as eid al adha 2026 moves closer. Mohammed Awda led the observatory team, which photographed the moon before the crescent sighting expected on Sunday, May 17.
The observatory, affiliated with the International Astronomy Centre, measured the moon at 7.5 degrees away from the Sun and at negative 8 hours and 32 minutes old. The new moon had not yet formed when the team took the image, placing the observation in the final stretch of Dhul Qadah, one of Islam’s four sacred months.
Mohammed Awda Leads Abu Dhabi Team
Mohammed Awda led the observatory team at Al Khatm Astronomical Observatory, with Khalafan Al-Naimi, Osama Ghannam, and Anas Mohammed taking part. The image was captured in Abu Dhabi during daylight, a technical observation that tracks the lunar phase before the calendar turns to Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH.
Salma El Omla is named in the source as a digital journalist connected to the report. The observation itself sits at the center of the calendar shift, because Muslim countries around the world, including the UAE, will observe the crescent moon on Sunday, May 17.
Saudi Arabia Sets Crescent Sighting
Saudi Arabia has called on Muslims across the Kingdom to sight the Dhul Hijjah crescent on the evening of May 17. Under the Umm al-Qura calendar, May 17 corresponds to the 29th of Dhul Qadah, which makes the sighting window the decisive point for the start of Dhul Hijjah.
If the crescent is sighted on Sunday evening, Dhul Hijjah will begin on Monday, May 18, Arafah Day will fall on Tuesday, May 26, and Eid Al Adha will begin on Wednesday, May 27. If the crescent is not sighted, Dhul Qadah will complete 30 days, Dhul Hijjah will begin on Tuesday, May 19, Arafah Day will shift to May 27, and Eid Al Adha will begin on Thursday, May 28.
Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH Timeline
For readers watching the calendar, the practical next step comes on Sunday evening, May 17, when the crescent sighting will decide whether the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah starts the following day or moves to May 19. That decision also fixes the timing of Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha 2026, which shifts by one day depending on the moon sighting.
