Eid-ul-Fitr 2026 Date: Is it on March 20 or March 21 in Saudi, Dubai and India? Crescent moon sighting calendar here
The first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, marks Eid ul-Fitr. The sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon determines Eid ul-Fitr celebrations. Check Crescent moon sighting calendar here.
Displaced Palestinians shop at a street market as they prepare for Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on March 17, 2026. The truce in place since October between Israel and Hamas has seen the level of violence drop in Gaza -- even though there are still regular reports of Israeli strikes and deaths. (Photo by Eyad Baba / AFP)(AFP)
Eid-ul-Fitr 2026 Date: The Saudi Supreme Court has called on Muslims across the Kingdom to sight the crescent moon of Shawwal on the evening of Wednesday, 18 March.
If the crescent is sighted on Wednesday evening, the 29th day of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations, it would end the month-long fasting. If the crescent moon is not sighted,the month will be 30 days long, and Eid will be on Friday in Saudi Arabia and Gulf nations.
Eid-ul-Fitr is also called the “festival of breaking the fast.” This year, it is expected that India will celebrate Eid on 20 March, Friday, or 21 March, Saturday. In Saudi Arabia, it is likely that the festival celebrations will take place on Thursday, 19 March, or Friday, 20 March.
The announcement by the Saudi Supreme Court, issued via an official statement on Monday, follows the Umm Al Qura calendar, which suggests Wednesday corresponds to the 29th of Ramadan 1447 AH.
Eid calendar
Country
Crescent moon expected date
Crescent Moon sighting (Evening local time )
Eid Date (2026)
Saudi Arabia
March 19
6:25 PM
March 20
UAE
March 19
6:20 PM
March 20
Qatar
March 19
6:15 PM
March 20
Bahrain
March 19
6:30 PM
March 20
Oman
March 19
6:05 PM
March 20
Kuwait
March 19
6:10 PM
March 20
Egypt
March 19
6:45 PM
March 20
Turkey
March 19
6:50 PM
March 20
India
March 20
6:45 PM IST
March 21
Pakistan
March 20
6:30 PM PKT
March 21
Bangladesh
March 20
6:50 PM BST
March 21
Iran
March 20
7:00 PM IRST
March 21
Afghanistan
March 20
6:40 PM AFT
March 21
Malaysia
March 20
7:10 PM MYT
March 21
Indonesia
March 20
7:15 PM WIB
March 21
Maldives
March 20
7:05 PM MVT
March 21
Sri Lanka
March 20
6:50 PM SLST
March 21
How does Saudi Supreme Court announce Eid date
The tenth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar is Shawwal which marks Eid ul-Fitr celebrations. Since the celebrations of this festival are contingent upon the sighting of the moon, it is usual for Saudi Arabia Supreme Court to call upon Muslims across the country to sight the crescent of Shawwal moon.
India usually celebrates Eid a day after festivities kickstart in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. UAE's International Astronomical Centre predicted that the crescent moon, which marks the last day of Ramadan, will be sighted in Gulf countries on 19 March while West Asia may celebrate this day on 20 March.
Qatar officially announced a seven-day Eid Al Fitr holiday for public sector employees. Offering government workers an extended break to celebrate the end of Ramadan, ministries, government agencies and public institutions will observe the Eid holiday from 17 March, Monday till 23 March, Sunday, according to the Amiri Diwan. As per Qatar Calendar House, astronomical calculations indicate that the first day of Shawwal 1447 will be observed on 20 March, Friday.
The day the crescent moon is sighted, it is celebrated as 'chand raat' which marks the conclusion of the holiest month of Islam — Ramadan — and is followed by Eid celebrations.
Ramadan commenced in Saudi Arabia and the UAE on 18 February this year after the crescent moon was sighted on 17 February, Tuesday. The date of the Eid festival will be decided by the moon-sighting committee.
Qatar's Verification Committee at the Ministry of Awqaf will determine the decision regarding the start of the month. The crescent moon will be born on 19 March, Thursday, at 4:24 am making it is impossible to sight the crescent moon on the evening of 18 March, Wednesday, in the skies of Qatar, QCH added.
In India, Ramadan began a day after it began in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. Eid is also celebrated a day later in India. So in India, the 29th day of Ramadan will be on Thursday. So the moon sighting will be on Thursday. If the moon is sighted in India on Thursday, Eid will be on Friday. Otherwise, the month will be of 30 days and Eid will be on Saturday. There is no need to sight moon on Friday because the month of Ramadan cannot extend 30 days.
