March 20 likely to be the first day of Eid Al Fitr: UAE astronomical body

The Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology, through the Sharjah Astronomical Observatory, has announced the findings of its astronomical calculations regarding the sighting of the Shawwal crescent for the year 1447 AH.

The results confirm that Friday, March 20, 2026, will mark the first day of Eid Al Fitr in the country, based on the conclusion of a full thirty days of Ramadan.

Based on calculations, on Wednesday, March 18, which coincides with the 29th of Ramadan (the night traditionally dedicated to crescent sighting), no new crescent will be visible.

The moon is expected to set before the sun in the western sky, indicating that Ramadan will continue. Consequently, Thursday, March 19, will mark the 30th and final day of the holy month.

The observatory clarified that the moon will reach its conjunction (new moon phase) above Sharjah on Thursday, March 19, at 4:24 AM UAE time.

At sunset that day, the crescent will be 14 hours and 6 minutes old, with an angular distance (elongation) of 6.5 degrees from the sun and an altitude of 6 degrees above the western horizon. The crescent is expected to remain visible for 29 minutes after sunset.

The academy has announced that the current conditions in the UAE are deemed "critical" or unfavorable for sighting the crescent moon. According to calculations, even with advanced astronomical equipment, observing the moon will be highly challenging, and capturing it through advanced methods like image stacking has an extremely low probability. Additionally, it is impossible to see it with the naked eye within the region.

However, the observatory noted that the crescent moon might be visible in certain Arab and Islamic countries situated further west, where geographical and astronomical factors might allow for its observation either with the naked eye or through telescopes.

Based on its astronomical assessments, the academy confirmed that Friday, March 20, would mark the first day of Shawwal and Eid al-Fitr in the UAE and most Islamic nations. Countries that rely solely on manual sighting through telescopes or the naked eye may observe Shawwal starting Saturday instead. These countries had commenced Ramadan on Thursday, February 19, while Ramadan began on Wednesday in the UAE.