The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia welcomed the holy month of Ramadan with Taraweeh prayers offered at mosques across the country on Friday night. Fasting officially begins on Saturday, March 1st, 2025 as Muslims across Saudi Arabia and other parts of the world start observing the spiritual practice of abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset.

Details & Context

The Saudi Supreme Court confirmed the sighting of the new moon on Friday evening, officially marking the start of Ramadan.

The first night of Taraweeh prayers — a special nightly prayer performed during Ramadan — took place at major mosques, including,

- The Grand Mosque in Makkah — the holiest site in Islam.

- The Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah — a key pilgrimage destination for Muslims.

To accommodate the large number of worshipers, 11,000 workers have been deployed at both mosques. Enhanced services for visitors include,

- Transport facilities to ease movement within the holy sites.

- Cleaning teams to maintain hygiene and cleanliness.

- Safety measures for crowd control and emergency response.

Note

Fajr: Marks the start of fasting (Suhoor ends).

Maghrib: The time for Iftar (breaking the fast).

Isha: Followed by Taraweeh prayers.

Quotes

In a message to the nation King Salman extended his wishes for a blessed Ramadan, encouraging Muslims to embrace the values of patience, faith and unity.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Saudi officials also conveyed their prayers and well wishes for the holy month.

Additional Information

The Kingdom has already witnessed a significant number of pilgrims arriving for Umrah (lesser pilgrimage). In 2024 nearly 17 million worshipers visited Saudi Arabia many choosing to spend Ramadan in Makkah and Madinah.

Last year over 2.5 million worshipers gathered at the Grand Mosque in Makkah on the 29th night of Ramadan to hear the completion of the Qur'an's recitation — a deeply spiritual moment for all attendees.

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Impact Analysis

The start of Ramadan not only brings a spiritual atmosphere but also boosts local economies especially in Makkah and Madinah. Hotels, transport services and local vendors see a surge in demand as pilgrims flock to the holy cities.

The government’s efforts to improve infrastructure and crowd management ensure a smooth experience for worshipers during this high-traffic period.

As Saudi Arabia begins Ramadan 2025 millions of Muslims have already united in prayers and fasting seeking blessings and spiritual growth. With organised preparations and heartfelt leadership messages, the Kingdom sets the tone for a peaceful and spiritually enriching month ahead.

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