UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain announce official begin date of Eid Al Fitr 2026 | World Information
Eid Al Fitr 2026 will likely be celebrated on Friday, March 20 throughout the UAE and a number of other Gulf nations, after the Shawwal crescent moon was not sighted, marking the completion of a 30-day Ramadan. The UAE confirmed the date on Wednesday, following the Moon-sighting Committee’s commentary, which didn’t document any confirmed sighting of the crescent on Wednesday night. Because of this, Thursday, March 19, will full the holy month of Ramadan, with Eid starting the next day. The sighting of the Shawwal crescent historically alerts the tip of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid Al Fitr, one of the vital vital festivals within the Islamic calendar. Comparable bulletins have been made throughout the Gulf area. Saudi Arabia confirmed that the crescent moon was not sighted after reviewing studies submitted by courts and observatories throughout the Kingdom. In a press release, the Saudi Royal Courtroom famous that no confirmed sighting was established, confirming Friday, March 20, as the primary day of Eid. Kuwait’s Sharia Imaginative and prescient Authority additionally confirmed that Thursday will full Ramadan, with Eid Al Fitr falling on Friday. Bahrain and Qatar issued comparable confirmations, with each nations asserting March 20 as the primary day of Eid after the crescent moon was not sighted. In Qatar, the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) acknowledged that Thursday marks the thirtieth and last day of Ramadan, aligning with the broader regional announcement. Earlier, the UAE had already outlined Eid holidays for each private and non-private sector workers. In keeping with the Federal Authority for Authorities Human Assets, public sector holidays will run from Thursday, March 19, to Sunday, March 22, with work resuming on Monday, March 23. For the non-public sector, the Ministry of Human Assets and Emiratisation introduced a break from Thursday, March 19, to Saturday, March 21. The ministry added that if Ramadan completes 30 days, the vacation will lengthen to Sunday, March 22. With the date now confirmed, preparations for Eid celebrations are set to start throughout the area, as households and communities come collectively to mark the tip of Ramadan.