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4-day weekend for Eid Al Fitr in UAE: Likely dates revealed
Astronomical calculations and official calendars are giving residents an early idea of when the long Eid holiday may begin
- PUBLISHED: Mon 23 Feb 2026, 5:00 AM UPDATED: Mon 23 Feb 2026, 8:13 AM
The first week of the holy month of Ramadan has breezed by. As spirituality peaks across the UAE, residents are already planning ahead for Eid Al Fitr, the Islamic festival that marks the end of Ramadan and brings one of the longest public holidays of the year.
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In the Islamic Hijri calendar, Ramadan is the ninth month and lasts 29 or 30 days depending on the sighting of the crescent moon. The following month is Shawwal, with Eid Al Fitr celebrated on Shawwal 1.
Experts have now revealed the likely end date of Ramadan and how long the Eid Al Fitr break could be.
Moon sighting date
The UAE’s Moon-Sighting Committee will search the skies on the 29th of Ramadan, which falls on Wednesday, March 18.
The duration of the Eid holiday is typically determined by the moon sighting. However, this year, residents with a Saturday-Sunday weekend are expected to receive a four-day break regardless of when the Moon is sighted.
Scenario 1: Moon spotted on March 18
If the crescent moon is spotted on the night of March 18:
Eid Al Fitr: Thursday, March 19
Public holiday: March 19 to 21 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday)
With the Sunday weekend included, residents would get a four-day break
Scenario 2: Moon not spotted on March 18
If the Moon is not sighted, Ramadan will complete 30 days:
Eid Al Fitr: Friday, March 20
Under the latest rule, the 30th day of Ramadan is also a public holiday
Public holiday: March 19 to 22 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
This also results in a four-day break
Astronomy projections
According to Khadijah Ahmad, Operations Manager at the Dubai Astronomy Group, astronomical calculations suggest Ramadan will run for 30 days. If confirmed, Eid Al Fitr will fall on Friday, March 20.
This projection aligns with the latest prayer timings calendar published on the UAE’s Islamic affairs authority website, which lists 30 days for Ramadan and places Shawwal 1 (Eid Al Fitr) on March 20.
As Associate Editor, Sahim Salim helps tell the UAE story like no one else does — and leads a team of reporters that asks the questions to get news and headlines that matter.
