With the dawn of a new day in the holy month, those fasting and residents of Saudi Arabia are keen to know times for Imsak (the start of the fast) and Iftar (the breaking of the fast) to ensure the validity of their fast and the performance of their religious duties at their designated times. Today, Tuesday, the 7th of Ramadan, marks the beginning of the month, with fasting times varying between cities and provinces across the Kingdom based on their geographical location relative to the lines of longitude.
Schedule of Imsak and Iftar times for the 7th day of Ramadan
According to the approved calendar and what was announced by the National Center for Meteorology and the relevant authorities, the times for Fajr (Imsak) and Maghrib (Iftar) prayers in the major cities of the Kingdom for today are as follows:
- Dammam: Fajr 4:49 AM - Maghrib 5:38 PM.
- Riyadh (the capital): Fajr 5:02 AM – Maghrib 5:53 PM.
- Mecca: Fajr 5:29 AM – Maghrib 6:23 PM.
- Medina: Fajr 5:30 AM - Maghrib 6:22 PM.
- Jeddah: Fajr 5:32 AM - Maghrib 6:26 PM.
- Abha: Fajr 5:17 AM - Maghrib 6:15 PM.
- Tabuk: Fajr 5:43 AM - Maghrib 6:31 PM.
- Buraidah: Fajr 5:13 AM - Maghrib 6:03 PM.
- Hail: Fajr 5:22 AM - Maghrib 6:11 PM.
- Al-Baha: Fajr 5:22 AM - Maghrib 6:18 PM.
- Arar: Dawn 5:25 AM – Sunset 6:11 PM.
- Sakaka: Fajr 5:28 AM – Maghrib 6:15 PM.
- Jazan: Fajr 5:17 AM - Maghrib 6:16 PM.
- Najran: Fajr 5:10 AM - Maghrib 6:09 PM.
Geographical variation and its impact on time zones
One of the established geographical facts that becomes clearly apparent during Ramadan in Saudi Arabia is the noticeable difference in time zones between the Eastern and Western regions. Due to the Kingdom's vast geographical expanse, the sun rises first in eastern cities like Dammam and Khobar, resulting in earlier times for fasting and breaking the fast compared to the capital, Riyadh, and a greater time difference compared to western coastal cities like Jeddah and Mecca. This natural progression reflects the magnificence of the Creator in the alternation of night and day, and necessitates that travelers between cities carefully consider these time differences.
The spiritual atmosphere in the Two Holy Mosques
This coincides with the arrival of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and visitors to Mecca and Medina. The courtyards of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque are filled with awe-inspiring spirituality, especially during the communal iftar meals, which create a unique and heartwarming scene uniting Muslims from all corners of the earth. The relevant authorities in the Kingdom are working tirelessly to ensure the smooth flow of movement and provide comfort for those fasting, enabling them to perform their prayers and acts of worship with devotion and tranquility during this holy month.
