Astronomers predict likely start date of Ramadan 2026

Astronomers in the United Arab Emirates have shared their forecast for the beginning of Ramadan 1447 Hijri, according to the Arabic lunar calendar.

The Emirates Astronomy Society announced that there are still 139 days left until the holy month begins.

Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Emirates Astronomy Society, stated that the Ramadan crescent is expected to appear on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 4:01 pm local time. However, as the moon will set just one minute after sunset, it will not be visible to the naked eye that evening.

Therefore, based on the official announcement of the moon-sighting committee, the first day of Ramadan is likely to be Thursday, February 19, 2026. This date is considered the most probable start of the holy month according to initial calculations.

Al Jarwan also provided forecasts for fasting durations and weather conditions across the Middle East. He noted that at the beginning of Ramadan, fasting hours in Abu Dhabi will last about 12 hours and 46 minutes.

By the end of the month, the duration will gradually increase to approximately 13 hours and 25 minutes. During this period, daylight hours will also extend from 11 hours and 32 minutes to around 12 hours and 12 minutes.