When Is Ramadan 2026?
Astronomers in Sharjah have just shared their official forecast for when Ramadan will begin this year, and if you’re planning ahead, here’s what you need to know. According to the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology (SAASST), Ramadan 1447 AH is most likely to start on Thursday, February 19, 2026 — at least in countries that rely on actually spotting the crescent moon.
So how did they figure that out? Specialists from the University of Sharjah explained that the central conjunction — that’s when the moon lines up perfectly with the sun — will happen on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 4:01pm UAE time. On that evening, the moon will set almost exactly when the sun does in Sharjah, and it’ll only be about two hours and 14 minutes old. That’s way too young to see, even with powerful telescopes, not just in the UAE but across most of the Islamic world.
But wait a day, and things change. By Wednesday, February 18, the moon will be over 26 hours old and sitting more than 12 degrees above the horizon at sunset. SAASST says those conditions are perfect for a clear sighting with the naked eye — as long as the weather cooperates, of course.
Based on all that, they’re expecting Ramadan to kick off on Thursday, February 19. That said, the academy pointed out that some countries might start observing on Wednesday, February 18, depending on whether they go by astronomical calculations instead of waiting for the traditional moon sighting.
Either way, Ramadan is just around the corner.