International Desk: Saudi Arabia has decided to officially start using the Gregorian calendar instead of the Hijri calendar for government work. Gulf News said in a report.
The decision was taken unanimously at the meeting of the Council of Ministers led by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammad bin Salman last Tuesday.
According to a report by Pakistani media outlet Sama TV on Saturday, Saudi Arabia has decided to use the Gregorian calendar to determine the timing of all official activities and transactions.
However, the rule will be relaxed if there is a clear need to use the Hijri calendar for timing in matters related to Shariah law.
Earlier, in 2012, Saudi Arabia banned the use of the Gregorian calendar in all Arab public and private works and official transactions. At that time, all ministries and agencies were instructed to strictly adhere to the Hijri date and the use of the Arabic language.
