The countdown to Eid Al Fitr is now firmly on in the UAE, with the country’s moon sighting authorities calling on the public to look for the Shawwal crescent. The UAE Council for Fatwa said the crescent would be observed after Maghreb prayer on Wednesday, March 18, which corresponds to the 29th day of Ramadan 1447 AH.
This moon sighting matters because it will decide exactly when Ramadan ends and Shawwal begins. In the Islamic calendar, Eid Al Fitr starts on the first day of Shawwal, so the sighting of the new moon is what officially marks the holiday. Senior religious scholars, astronomers and officials were due to gather in the UAE to review reports submitted from across the country before making the final announcement.
The public was also invited to take part. According to reports, people who sight the crescent were encouraged to submit their observations through the designated UAE platform or by using the official contact channels set up for moon sighting.
By later on March 18, UAE authorities confirmed that Eid Al Fitr 2026 would begin on Friday, March 20, meaning Ramadan would complete 30 days this year. The National reported that the country’s moon sighting committee met on Wednesday evening and confirmed the holiday start date after the crescent was not used to begin Shawwal on Thursday.
The UAE was not alone in this process. Other countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, were also preparing to or carrying out their own moon sighting exercises as Muslims across the Gulf waited for official confirmation of Eid.
For families across the UAE, the announcement signals more than just a date on the calendar. It marks the close of Ramadan and the start of one of the most important celebrations in the Islamic year, with prayers, family gatherings and public holidays all set to follow.
