When will Eid al-Fitr 2026 be celebrated?
Eid al-Fitr 2026 is expected to be celebrated on March 20, 2026 for countries that began Ramadan on February 18. However, the final confirmation of this date will depend on local moon sightings.
The crescent moon, which determines the start of Eid, is unlikely to be visible on the evening of March 18, making it difficult to confirm the date. The Sharjah Academy for Astronomy predicts that Eid will most likely fall on March 20, but visibility is extremely difficult and only possible with a telescope under perfectly clear atmospheric conditions.
In the Gulf countries, the Eid celebrations are significant, marking the end of Ramadan, a month dedicated to fasting, prayer, and reflection. In Saudi Arabia, the Eid holiday will begin at the end of the workday on March 18, while the UAE federal government holiday will extend from March 19 to March 22.
For public sector employees in the UAE, they will return to work on March 23, while private sector employees may enjoy a shorter holiday of three days. In total, employees could potentially have up to nine days off when combining annual leave with the holiday.
Countries that began Ramadan on February 19 may observe Eid on March 21, further complicating the coordination of celebrations across the region.
Details remain unconfirmed as the exact date will only be finalized after local observations of the crescent moon. Different countries may observe Eid on different days based on these local moon sightings.
