Public holiday announced in Oman as first day of Muharram confirmed

Muscat: Monday will be the first day of Muharram, the Islamic New Year, according to the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs (MERA).
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Therefore the public holiday will be on Monday. "The moon was not sighted on Saturday," MERA tweeted on its official twitter account.
Last week, Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Minister of the Royal Diwan, had issued a decision stating that on the occasion of the new Islamic New Year 1438H, it has been decided that the first day of the Islamic New Year shall be an official holiday for ministry, public authority and other government sector employees.