Ramadan will begin in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries on Monday as moon observers said there was no sight of the Ramadan crescent on Saturday.
The Islamic world follows a lunar calendar, and the traditional moon-sighting methodology can lead to different countries declaring the start of Ramadan a day or two apart, reports Arab News.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five obligatory pillars of Islam, along with the Muslim declaration of faith, daily prayer, annual charity - known as "zakat" - and performing the Hajj pilgrimage.
Along with Saudi Arabia, Muslims in the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Malaysia, the UK, the USA, Australia and Singapore will also start fasting on Monday.
Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh, Saudi minister for Islamic affairs, said more than 4,000 clerics were being employed during Ramadan and 1,100 imams were being hired to lead Taraweeh prayers.
He also said over 2,400 mosques had been renovated and 221 mosques had been opened before Ramadan.
Meanwhile, a Bangladeshi, Hafez Ammar Bin Anwar, has been appointed as the imam of a mosque in Taif city to conduct Taraweeh.
