Ramadan 2026 in Saudi Arabia is expected to begin around February 18-19, based on the lunar crescent sighting by the Supreme Court.

Official Confirmation Process

The start date hinges on moon sighting on the evening of February 17 or 18, 2026. Saudi authorities, including the Supreme Court, make the final call after astronomical calculations and visual confirmation. This ensures alignment with the Islamic lunar calendar (1447 AH), where the month begins at sunset if the new moon is visible.

Predictions vary slightly:

  • Thursday, February 19 : Most cited from recent Saudi-focused sources, with fasting starting that day after suhoor on the 18th evening.
  • Wednesday, February 18 : Alternative from university observations and calendars, if the crescent appears a day earlier.

Source Perspective| Predicted Start| End Estimate| Eid al-Fitr
---|---|---|---
Almosafer Blog (Saudi travel) 1| Thu, Feb 19| Fri, Mar 20| Sat, Mar 21
King Abdulaziz Univ 5| Wed, Feb 18 or Thu, Feb 19| Thu, Mar 19| Fri/Sat, Mar 20-21
Hamariweb Calendar 3| Wed, Feb 18 (first fast)| ~Mar 19| N/A
PrayerTimesKSA 2| Evening-based, local confirmation| 29-30 days| Varies by sighting

Why Dates Shift

Unlike fixed solar calendars, Ramadan follows the Hijri lunar cycle, shifting 10-11 days earlier yearly on Gregorian dates. In 2026, moderate fasting hours (12-13 hours in KSA) due to late winter timing make it spiritually refreshing with cooler weather. Past years show 1-day variances; e.g., 2025 started Feb 28 in Saudi after regional sightings.

Preparation Tips

  • Monitor Updates : Check Saudi Supreme Court or news like SPA post-February 17 sunset—today's date (Feb 17, 2026) means sighting could happen tonight!
  • Spiritual Routine : Focus on last 10 nights for Laylat al-Qadr (odd nights like 21, 23, 25, 27, 29); simple du'a beats overplanning.
  • Common pitfalls: Arguing dates—follow local Saudi ruling to avoid family stress; plan suhoor/iftar flexibly.

Trending Context

Forums buzz with "Ramadan 2026 KSA start" queries spiking now, blending excitement and date debates. Travelers note shorter fasts vs. summer years, boosting iftar gatherings in Riyadh/Jeddah.

TL;DR : Likely Thursday, Feb 19, 2026—await tonight's moon sighting for certainty.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.