CAIRO, Egypt: Millions of Muslims around the world started observing the holy fasting month of Ramadan on Thursday, September 13.

The Saudi Supreme Judicial Council announced Tuesday, September 11, that the new moon was not sighted and that Ramadan will start Thursday.

Bahrain's Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs announced Tuesday that Wednesday is the 30th day of Sha'ban and Thursday is the first day of Ramadan.

Justice Abdullah Al-Essa said Wednesday would be the last day of Sha'ban in Kuwait and thus the first day of Ramadan would fall on Thursday.

The moon-sighting committee in the United Arab Emirates, chaired by Justice Minister Mohammamd Nakhira Al Daheri, announced that Thursday will be the first day of Ramadan.

The authorities in Qatar made the same announcement.

Jordan's Chief Justice Ahmed Helayel announced Tuesday that Thursday would be the first day of the holy month of Ramadan.

Egyptian Mufti Ali Goaa said because the Ramadan moon was not seen Tuesday the fasting will start Thursday.

Lebanon's Sunni Mufti Mohammaed Rashed Qabani also announced that Ramadan will start Thursday.

Palestinian Mufti Mohammed Hussein also made a similar announcement.

Algeria, Turkey and Syria said Ramadan begins Thursday.

The Indonesian religious affairs minister said Ramadan will start Thursday.

Malaysian authorities announced earlier that Muslims in the Asian country will start fasting on Thursday.

Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) announced that Ramadan falls on Thursday based on astronomical calculations.

The fatwa houses in Tajikistan and Kazakhstan also confirmed Thursday as the start of Ramadan.

The Islamic society in China says fasting starts Thursday.

The Islamic Community of Kosova announced during a press conference that the holy fasting month starts Thursday.

The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) has announced that Muslims in North America will mark the start of the holy month as of Thursday as per astronomical calculations.

The Imams Association in the Netherlands said the Muslim minority will start observing the holy fasting month as of Thursday.

In Germany, the scientific committee on moon sighting confirmed the new moon was not seen and Ramadan will start Thursday.

In Austria, the coordination council of Muslim organizations also announced Thursday as the start of Ramadan.

French Muslims will also fast as of Thursday.

In the Czech Republic, the Islamic Waqf authority said Ramadan will begin Thursday. The same announcement was made by the Islamic Waqf in Slovakia.

The Islamic waqf in Denmark and the Muslim association in Sweden decided to start the fast with Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

India and Pakistan announced that the dawn-to-dusk fasting month will fall on Friday, September 14.