The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has officially announced the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah crescent moon, signifying the beginning of the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

According to a post by Haramain, a Saudi-based Islamic news platform, the crescent was sighted on Tuesday evening, marking Wednesday, May 28, as the first day of Dhul Hijjah 1446 AH.

With this development, the Day of Arafat — the pinnacle of the Hajj pilgrimage — will be observed on Wednesday, June 5, while Eid-el-Kabir (Eid al-Adha), Islam’s most significant festival, will be celebrated on Thursday, June 6, 2025.

“The crescent moon has been sighted in Saudi Arabia — Dhul Hijjah 1446 begins tonight,” Haramain posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle.

Eid-el-Kabir commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, a moment marked by prayers, feasting, and the ritual slaughtering of animals by Muslims worldwide.