For Muslims in Saudi Arabia and most Sunni-ruled Middle Eastern states Ramadan will begin on Saturday, but in Shiite-majority Iran and Iraq it will start the following day, authorities announced.

Saudi Arabia, along with Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Sudan, and several other Arab and Islamic nations, officially announced that Saturday would be the first day of Ramadan.

Ramadan or Ramzan is the ninth month that falls in the Islamic lunar calendar. It is the holy month of spiritual reflection, forgiveness, gratitude and celebration. The sighting of the crescent moon marks the commencement of this auspicious Muslim festival across the world.