Page 46 - UAE FATWA PR REPORT - MARCH 2025 (ENGLISH)

4/3/25, 1:12 PM UAE employs AI-driven drones for Shawwal moon sighting

UAE employs AI-driven

drones for Shawwal moon

sighting

WAM
29th March 2025, 22:59 GMT+11

ABU DHABI, 29th March, 2025 (WAM) -- The UAE Council for Fatwa is using
AI-powered drones to sight the Shawwal crescent moon for the year 1446 AH,
underscoring the country's leadership in adopting innovative technological solutions
for monitoring and observation.

The council is the first in the world to utilise this advanced technology for moon
sighting, having employed it earlier this year to observe the Ramadan crescent.

In a significant technological advancement, several drones will be deployed from
Al-Khatim Astronomical Observatory, which are equipped with high-precision
lenses that will rise more than 300 metres above ground, directed toward the
location of the moon based on precise astronomical calculations. This approach,
which the council will deploy for the second consecutive time, aims to overcome
challenges that may obstruct visual sighting and ensure the atmospheric clarity
needed for accurate observation.

Additionally, innovative AI-powered technologies will be used to analyse images,
process data, and determine the location of the crescent's birth and the possibility of
its visibility with precision.

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