Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, will start the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan on Monday along with most other GCC and Arab countries.

Senior religious councils in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Yemen, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria and Iraq said the moon's crescent was not sighted after nightfall on Saturday, and so Sunday would be the 30th day of Shaaban, the month preceding Ramadan.

In the meantime, Libya announced that Ramadan will start on Sunday, 31st of August.

Muslims scan the sky at night in search of the new moon to proclaim the start of Ramadan, the holiest month for the world's more than one billion Muslims, during which they fast from dawn to sunset.

Businesses and offices reduce opening hours during the day and often re-open in the evenings.