Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — As holy month of Ramadan begins, the duration fasting time in vast Kingdom varies from region to region depending on the period of time between sunrise and sunset where latitude and longitude matter. The most of regions and governorates in the Kingdom have an average of 15 hours of fasting. Places in higher latitudes have longer days. Some parts of Tabuk and Northern Borders Areas, Southern Provinces have significant difference in time for breaking the fast. This year, Haql in Tabuk province, approximately 1225 km away from Jeddah and situated on coast of Aqaba bordering Jordan, is last to break the fast in the Kingdom, also longest hours of fasting with other parts of Kingdom. "We are the last people in Kingdom to break the fast" Zafar Nadvi, a long time resident of Haql and who is associated with ministry of Islamic affairs, call and guidance and prepared prayer calendar for Haql area, told Saudi Gazette. He said that Maghrib at 7:33 in the area on first day of Ramadan and also Fajr was at 4:07, which also early comparison with other parts of the Kingdom. He added that people in Tabuk, Jouf and Northern Borders Area provinces are last to break the fast with other parts of Kingdom due to latitude, longitude and geographical positions. He said "we break the fast after half an hour of seeing Iftar at Haram mosque in Makkah." Nadvi also said "we, the people in Haql are blessed to have more time for Dua prior to breaking fast, which spiritually most important and I urge all people who live in latitude to spend more time in Dua for peace and welfare of people across the globe." Prior to Haql, Turaif, a border town in Northern Borders Province, is breaking the fast. "It looks very different, after nearly half an hour of seeing in TVs we make Iftar," said Abdul Lateef, Indian expatriate living in Turaif. The fasting time in southern parts of Kingdom is less compare with rest of provinces in the Kingdom. Even in Taif governorate, there is time difference to break the fast in Hada and Taif City.
