As the holy month of Ramadan begins, the duration of fasting hours varies across each countries, with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations showing the minimal differences. Kuwait leads the GCC with the shortest fasting period of 12 hours and 53 minutes, followed closely by Oman (12 hours 56 minutes), Saudi Arabia (12 hours 58 minutes), and the UAE (12 hours 59 minutes). Bahrain and Qatar share a fasting duration of 13 hours.
In the Arab world, Comoros tops the list with the longest fasting hours at 13 hours and 28 minutes, followed by Djibouti (13 hours 14 minutes) and Sudan (13 hours 6 minutes). Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, and Morocco share a fasting period of 12 hours and 56 minutes approximately, while Algeria and Yemen record 13 hours and 3 minutes and 13 hours and 1 minute, respectively.
Globally, Chile has the shortest fasting duration at 12 hours and 44 minutes, while New Zealand follows with 12 hours and 46 minutes. In contrast, non-Islamic countries like Sweden, Norway, and Finland experience the longest fasting hours, ranging from 20 hours and 30 minutes to 21 hours in some regions.
The disparity in fasting hours highlights the geographical and seasonal variations during Ramadan, with GCC countries maintaining a difference of less than 7 minutes. This uniformity underscores the close alignment of Gulf nations in their observance of the holy month. These variations in fasting hours are influenced by geographical location and seasonal changes.
Countries near the equator experience relatively stable fasting durations, while those in extreme latitudes face significant differences, with fasting times extending beyond 20 hours in the northernmost regions. Despite these differences, Muslims worldwide observe Ramadan with devotion, adapting their routines to the varying lengths of the fast while maintaining the spiritual essence of the holy month.
