Why Ramadan 2026 Started on Different Days Around the World

Ramadan 2026 began on two different days for Muslims globally. Some countries started fasting on February 18th, while many others began on February 19th, causing a split in observance.
By Newsroom | Religion, World News |

The commencement of the holy month of Ramadan in 2026 saw varied official declarations across different regions. While some nations, particularly in the Gulf, marked the start of Ramadan on Wednesday, February 18th, other countries observed the beginning of the fasting period on Thursday, February 19th. This divergence appears to stem from differing interpretations and observations of the crescent moon (Hilal), a key determinant for the start of the Islamic month.

Ramadan 2026: Differing Moon Sightings Create a Split in Observance

The spiritual observance of Ramadan in 2026 was characterized by a division in its commencement date, with significant geographical areas commencing their fasting on different days. This situation raises questions about the methods and authorities responsible for sighting the Ramadan crescent moon, and how these differing conclusions impact the unified practice of a global religious observance.

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Context: The Role of Crescent Moon Sighting in Ramadan

The Islamic lunar calendar dictates the start of Ramadan based on the sighting of the new crescent moon after sunset. This tradition has been a cornerstone of Islamic practice for centuries. In 2026, this practice led to varied official announcements regarding the first day of fasting.

  • February 17th, 2026: Preparations and committee meetings for moon sighting were underway in several locations, including Tumair Observatory in Saudi Arabia and observatories across the UAE.

  • February 18th, 2026:

  • Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar officially announced the start of Ramadan, reporting the sighting of the crescent moon.

  • Bahrain also confirmed February 18th as the first day of Ramadan.

  • Kuwait, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, and Egypt reportedly began Ramadan on this date.

  • Reports indicated that people believed they would see the crescent on February 17th, which would lead to Ramadan beginning on the 18th if sighted.

  • February 19th, 2026:

  • Many countries, including Oman, Turkey, Singapore, Australia, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines, announced the start of Ramadan on February 19th.

  • The French Council of Muslim Faith also declared February 19th as the first day of fasting, based on astronomical calculations.

  • The UAE officially confirmed February 19th as the start of Ramadan in at least one report, which contrasts with other reports stating February 18th for the UAE.

Evidence of Varied Declarations

Official announcements and news reports provide direct evidence of the differing start dates for Ramadan in 2026.

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  • Gulf Nations and Others Begin February 18th:

  • Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar commenced Ramadan on February 18th, citing crescent moon sightings. (Article 1, Article 2, Article 4, Article 5, Article 6)

  • Bahrain officially confirmed Wednesday, February 18th, as the start of Ramadan. (Article 1, Article 6)

  • Kuwait, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, and Egypt also reportedly began Ramadan on February 18th. (Article 6)

  • Other Nations Commence February 19th:

  • Oman, Turkey, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia opted for a February 19th start, with some relying on visual clarity and astronomical calculations. (Article 2, Article 6, Article 7)

  • The French Council of Muslim Faith announced February 19th, based on astronomical calculations that ruled out crescent visibility on the preceding evening. (Article 7)

  • One report indicated the UAE confirmed February 19th as the start of Ramadan, following verified sighting of the crescent moon. (Article 8)

Astronomical Calculations vs. Visual Sighting

The differing start dates highlight a tension between astronomical predictions and the traditional visual sighting of the crescent moon.

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  • Reliance on Visual Sighting:

  • Countries like Oman, Malaysia, and Indonesia "rely heavily on visual clarity" for their decisions. (Article 2)

  • Saudi Arabia's moon sighting committees convene to look for the Ramadan crescent moon. (Article 5)

  • Reports suggest that if people could see the moon on February 18th, the first day of fasting in India would likely be February 19th. (Article 3)

  • Role of Astronomical Calculations:

  • Astronomical predictions indicated that Ramadan could begin on February 18th or 19th. (Article 1)

  • The French Council of Muslim Faith and Turkey used astronomical calculations to determine the start date, ruling out visibility on the preceding evening. (Article 7)

  • Singapore also confirmed February 19th after astronomical assessments ruled out crescent visibility on the observation night. (Article 7)

Regional Variations in Official Announcements

The process of officially announcing the start of Ramadan varied, contributing to the observed differences.

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  • Official Announcements on February 18th:

  • Authorities announced the first day of Ramadan on Wednesday, February 18th, with the fasting month expected to begin on either February 19th or 20th, depending on sightings. (Article 1)

  • Bahrain officially confirmed Wednesday, February 18th. (Article 1)

  • Saudi Arabia's moon sighting committees convened on February 17th to look for the moon, with announcements expected around 6:00 PM Makkah time. (Article 4, Article 5)

  • Official Announcements on February 19th:

  • The UAE officially confirmed February 19th as the start of Ramadan in one report, following the verified sighting. (Article 8)

  • Oman announced February 19th following astronomical calculations. (Article 7)

Global Impact and Interpretations

The differing start dates for Ramadan 2026 underscore a global phenomenon where religious observances can be marked by regional interpretations and adherence to specific methodologies.

  • Divergent Practices:

  • While the UAE and Saudi Arabia officially began the holy month on Wednesday, February 18th, "much of the world—including many in the UK—are starting on Thursday, February 19." (Article 2)

  • This indicates a clear division between regions following announcements from Saudi Arabia and the UAE versus those adhering to local sightings or astronomical calculations.

  • Unified Calls Amidst Differences:

  • Despite the staggered start, messages from leaders, such as those from the Sharjah Ruler, conveyed greetings for the "sacred month" and extended well wishes on the occasion of Ramadan. (Article 4)

Conclusion: A Fragmented Beginning to Ramadan 2026

The commencement of Ramadan in 2026 was marked by a clear division in its observance, with February 18th being the declared start for nations including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and several others in the Middle East. Conversely, a significant number of countries, spanning from Turkey and Oman to Southeast Asian nations and parts of Europe, began their fast on February 19th. This divergence appears rooted in the application of distinct methodologies for determining the start of the lunar month, primarily the reliance on traditional visual moon sighting versus astronomical calculations.

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While the specific sightings on the eve of Ramadan in February 2026 were reportedly confirmed in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, leading to their earlier commencement, other regions indicated that visual sighting was not possible or relied on astronomical data that suggested a later start. The conflicting reports regarding the UAE's start date (February 18th vs. February 19th) further illustrate the complexity and varying official pronouncements.

This situation highlights the ongoing discussion within the global Muslim community regarding unified calendar practices and the weight given to visual evidence versus scientific calculation in determining significant religious dates. The differing start dates did not appear to preclude unified greetings and acknowledgments of the sacred month's arrival across various regions.

Sources Used

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When did Ramadan 2026 officially start in different countries?
Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, and Egypt officially started Ramadan on Wednesday, February 18th, 2026. Other countries like Oman, Turkey, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines began fasting on Thursday, February 19th, 2026.
Q: Why did some countries start Ramadan 2026 on February 18th and others on February 19th?
The difference came from how countries looked for the new crescent moon. Some nations, like Saudi Arabia, reported seeing the moon on February 17th, leading to a February 18th start. Other countries either did not see the moon or used scientific calculations that showed the moon would be visible later, leading to a February 19th start.
Q: What caused the different start dates for Ramadan 2026 between visual moon sighting and scientific calculations?
Some countries, mainly in the Gulf, relied on traditional visual sighting of the crescent moon. If the moon was seen on February 17th, Ramadan started on February 18th. Other countries, like Turkey and France, used astronomical calculations which sometimes showed the moon was not visible on the 17th, so they started on February 19th.
Q: How did the UAE's official start date for Ramadan 2026 compare to other Gulf nations?
Most reports state that the UAE, like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, officially began Ramadan on Wednesday, February 18th, 2026, after sighting the crescent moon. However, one report from Dubai Times indicated the UAE confirmed a February 19th start, showing some internal variation in reporting.
Q: Which countries started Ramadan 2026 on Thursday, February 19th, instead of Wednesday, February 18th?
Many countries started Ramadan on February 19th, 2026. These included Oman, Turkey, Singapore, Australia, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines. The French Council of Muslim Faith also declared February 19th as their start date.