Ramadan 2026 in the UK, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco: Start Date, Moon Sighting Decisions, and the Expected End of Ramadan

Ramadan 2026 is being set right now through crescent-moon confirmation, and that process is producing slightly different start expectations across countries. As of Tuesday, February 17, 2026 ET, the broad picture is this: Saudi Arabia is positioned to begin Ramadan with the first daytime fast on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 ET, while Morocco’s process points more strongly toward a Thursday, February 19, 2026 ET first fast. In the UK, many communities are preparing to begin with the February 18 first fast as well, though some will align with local sighting criteria that can shift the start by one day.

That one-day difference is normal. Ramadan starts with the new lunar month, and the new month begins when the crescent is confirmed under a community’s accepted method.

When is Ramadan 2026?

For planning purposes, treat these as the most likely windows in Eastern Time:

• Saudi Arabia: Ramadan expected to begin the evening of Tuesday, February 17, 2026 ET, making Wednesday, February 18, 2026 ET the first day of fasting

• Morocco: Crescent sighting activity is centered on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 ET, making Thursday, February 19, 2026 ET a common expectation for the first day of fasting

• UK: Many UK timetables and community plans center on an evening start around February 17, 2026 ET with a first fast on February 18, 2026 ET, while some communities may begin with the February 19, 2026 ET first fast depending on which confirmation method they follow

Ramadan lasts either 29 or 30 days. That means the end of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr are most likely to land in a window around Thursday, March 19, 2026 ET through Saturday, March 21, 2026 ET, depending on the next crescent confirmation at the end of the month.

Is Ramadan tomorrow?

If you’re asking this on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 ET, then for many people the answer is yes: the first daytime fast is widely expected to be Wednesday, February 18, 2026 ET. But it can still be “not confirmed” for your specific community until your local mosque or recognized authority announces its decision. The most common backup plan is a start one day later, with the first fast on Thursday, February 19, 2026 ET.

Saudi Arabia Ramadan moon sighting: why the decision matters globally

Saudi Arabia’s official process carries extra weight because many communities around the world either follow the Kingdom’s declaration or use it as an important reference point. The Supreme Court in Saudi Arabia typically calls on people to observe the crescent at sunset on the relevant evening, then issues an official determination based on reports and established procedures.

Behind the headline, the incentive is unity and administrative clarity: a single declaration quickly synchronizes prayer schedules, work adjustments, school accommodations, travel plans, and religious programming at scale. The tradeoff is that communities outside Saudi Arabia may prioritize local sighting or different calculation standards, creating the familiar split where some start a day earlier or later.

Ramadan 2026 in the UK: why timetables can differ even within the same city

In the UK, the most visible question isn’t only “What date?” but also “Which method?” Many UK mosques and organizations publish Ramadan calendars in advance to help families plan, but the final start can still pivot if a community chooses to wait for a specific type of confirmation.

What typically drives differences in the UK:

• Some follow global sighting outcomes, often aligning with Saudi Arabia

• Some require local sighting within the UK or nearby regions

• Some use calculated moon visibility criteria for a pre-set calendar

For most workplaces and schools, the practical approach is to plan for the earlier likely start date and keep flexibility for a one-day shift.

Morocco moon sighting: a stricter local process can push the start later

Morocco is known for a structured, local confirmation approach that relies on national committees and official announcements. That tends to produce a start date that can differ from Saudi Arabia even when both are following a sighting-based model, simply because visibility and verification standards differ.

The real-world implication: families with relatives in different countries can end up starting Ramadan on different days, even while observing the same month.

Ramadan timetable 2026: what you can plan without exact city times

A true “Ramadan timetable” is city-specific because dawn and sunset shift by location. Even without exact times, you can plan around the fixed daily structure:

• Suhoor is the pre-dawn meal that ends at dawn

• Fasting runs from dawn until sunset

• Iftar is the meal at sunset when the fast is broken

• Taraweeh are special night prayers commonly held after the evening prayer during Ramadan

For the UK, the best practice is to use the timetable issued by your local mosque for your exact neighborhood, because even nearby towns can differ by a few minutes.

What Ramadan is, and what “Ramadan Mubarak” and “Ramadan Kareem” mean

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and a central period of worship, self-discipline, and community. Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, increase prayer and Qur’an recitation, focus on charity, and aim to improve character and habits.

Common greetings:

• “Ramadan Mubarak” conveys a wish for a blessed Ramadan

• “Ramadan Kareem” conveys a wish for a generous Ramadan

What to watch next: 4 realistic scenarios that settle the calendar

• Scenario 1: Saudi Arabia confirms the crescent, and many communities begin with the first fast on February 18, 2026 ET

• Scenario 2: Some UK communities and other countries begin with the first fast on February 19, 2026 ET due to their chosen confirmation method

• Scenario 3: Ramadan runs 29 days, bringing Eid earlier in the March 19–21 ET window

• Scenario 4: Ramadan runs 30 days, pushing Eid one day later than the earliest expectation

The second-order effects are practical: travel surges around Eid, shifts in retail and food demand, heavier usage of community services, and a busy calendar for mosques managing nightly prayers and iftar programs. The missing piece, until each authority announces, is the precise alignment for your community.

Ramadan Mubarak 2026, and if you’re coordinating across the UK, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco, plan for a one-day difference and treat the first fast as most likely on February 18, 2026 ET, with February 19 as the common alternate.