Ramadan to start on Sunday in several countries

Ramadan will be observed starting this Saturday in several Islamic countries, such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Qatar and Algeria. Ramadan, during which Muslims abstain from drinking, eating and sexual intercourse from dawn to sunset, is the ninth month of the Muslim year. Its observance is one of the five pillars of Islam.

Several other Arab states began Ramadan today, including Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon.