Saudi Arabia confirms crescent moon, Ramadan fasting begins Wednesday

Saudi Arabia has officially announced the sighting of the crescent moon, confirming that the holy month of Ramadan will begin on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

The confirmation of the Hilal marks the start of Ramadan 1447 in the Islamic calendar, with Taraweeh prayers scheduled to begin on Tuesday night after the Isha prayer. The announcement signals the beginning of a month dedicated to fasting, prayer, and spiritual reflection for Muslims worldwide.

Muslims in Nigeria, others to begin Ramadan as lunar sighting sets global observance timeline

Muslims in Nigeria, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates are among those expected to begin fasting at dawn on Wednesday, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s lunar observation.

However, the start date differs in some countries due to the crescent moon not being sighted. In Japan, authorities confirmed that Ramadan will begin on Thursday, February 19, following the inability to verify the moon’s appearance.

Similarly, Oman, Singapore, and Turkey also announced Thursday as the first day of fasting, in line with their traditional lunar verification processes.

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, shifts approximately 10 to 11 days earlier each year due to the shorter lunar cycle. Fasting from dawn to sunset during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and is mandatory for healthy adult Muslims, with exemptions granted to children, the sick, travellers, and pregnant or nursing women.

More than 1.8 billion Muslims globally are expected to observe the month-long fast, which often brings adjustments to work schedules and daily routines to accommodate increased worship and family activities.

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