Ramadan 2026: Crescent Moon Sighted in UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar

Feb 17, 2026

56 min

Feb 17, 2026 16:32

Ramadan 2026: These countries sighted the crescent moon today

## Crescent Moon Sighting Confirms Ramadan Start

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have officially announced that Ramadan 1447 will commence on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. This follows the confirmed sighting of the crescent moon in these countries, marking the beginning of the holy month.

## Observations and Verifications

In the UAE, religious and astronomical committees conducted traditional moon-sighting observations to verify the start of Ramadan. Similarly, Saudi Arabia's religious authorities confirmed the crescent sighting through established methods, ensuring a unified start to the fasting month. Qatar also declared the beginning of Ramadan after local observations and verification by its committees.

## Regional Variations

While these countries will begin Ramadan on February 18, several other nations in Asia and the MENA region have set Thursday, February 19, as the start date. This variation is due to differences in lunar visibility and traditional practices across regions.

## Other Confirmations

Kuwait, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, and Palestine have also confirmed February 18 as the start of Ramadan, following their own crescent moon observations. Communities in these countries are preparing for a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection.

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