Maldives Islamic Ministry announced the island nation welcomes the Islamic month of Ramadan.

Speaking at the ceremony held to announce the crescent sighting – which is the Islamic ritual to confirm the first of Ramadan – Islamic Minister Dr. Ahmed Ziyad Baaqir had said the conclusion was arrived based on astronomical findings as well as based on the Islamic calendar which marks the first of Ramadan on Wednesday, May 16.

Islamic Minister had extended well wishes of the auspicious and sacred month for the Muslim brotherhood to the Maldivian citizens as well as all the Muslim communities across the globe advising the followers to ‘make the most out of the sacred month.’

Though Maldives will be welcoming the first of Ramadan on Wednesday some of the Arab countries will be welcoming the month’s beginning a day later on Thursday as their governments had respectively announced no sighting of crescent.

Among the countries that has large Muslim communities which will be celebrating Ramadan on Thursday include Indonesia, Malaysia and United Arab Emirates (UAE). While it is 2018 in Gregorian calendar the Islamic calendar is marking 1439th year.

Maldives: A perfect time for tourists to visit

Resorts and hotels are normally not affected by Ramadan, so most visitors not of the Muslim faith may not even be aware that the Holy month is being observed. As a matter of fact, this is the perfect time to enjoy some of Maldives’ cultural foods during this festival.

Hotel and resort guests may also wish to end each day’s fast with in-room service offering delightful beverages such as buttermilk, watermelon juice, and Turkish coffee to enjoy while watching the night sky. Then in the morning before sunrise, they may choose to enjoy suhoor, a pre-dawn meal.