Holiday announced for Islamic New Year in Oman

The official holiday on the occasion of the Hijri New Year, depending on the sighting of the moon, could be on Thursday or Sunday, the Oman News Agency announced.

The first of Muharram 1442 AH will be an official leave for employees in the units of the state’s administrative apparatus. If it falls on Friday, August 21, the leave will be on Sunday Muharram 3 1442 (August 23) instead and the confirmation of the crescent of the month of Muharram will be announced by the competent authorities.

Meanwhile, the Astronomical Affairs Department at MERA said that the sighting of the moon of Muharram will be possible on Wednesday 19th August if the weather is clear.

A statement issued online said: "Astronomical calculations for the city of Muscat indicate that the moon will be in the conjunction phase on Wednesday at 6:42 am local time for the Sultanate, and the sun sets on Wednesday at 6:36 pm. "

"The moon will descend on Wednesday at 7:09 pm, meaning that the moon will descend about 33 minutes after sunset, away from the sun by 8 degrees and at an altitude of 7 degrees from the western horizon, and the intensity of its illumination is 0.51%. "

"Therefore, if the weather is clear, the sighting of the crescent of the month of Muharram 1442 AH on Wednesday, 29 Dhu al-Hijjah 1441 AH corresponding to August 19, 2020, will be possible."