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When are GCC countries celebrating Eid Al Fitr 2026?
Despite regional tensions this year, residents of Gulf nations are looking forward to welcoming the festivities of Eid Al Fitr
- PUBLISHED: Wed 18 Mar 2026, 10:45 PM UPDATED: Thu 19 Mar 2026, 7:16 PM
[Editor's note: This article has been edited on Thursday, March 19, after the moon sighting in Oman]
With the holy month of Ramadan coming to an end, countries across the globe looked towards the skies for the Shawwal crescent at sunset.
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Depending on whether or not the moon is sighted, the holy month of Ramadan will last either 29 or 30 days.
Despite regional tensions this year, residents of Gulf nations are looking forward to welcoming the festivities of Eid Al Fitr. Here's when each Gulf country is celebrating the first day of the festival:
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has announced that Eid Al Fitr 2026 will fall on Friday, March 20, after the Shawwal crescent was not spotted on Wednesday.
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Earlier, Muslims across the Kingdom were urged to spot the Shawwal crescent that would mark the end of Ramadan. Authorities in Saudi Arabia had already announced public holidays for private and government sector employees across the Kingdom.
UAE
The UAE will celebrate Eid Al Fitr on Friday (March 20), authorities confirmed after the crescent marking the start of Shawwal was not sighted today.
Under UAE law, the first three days of the Hijri month of Shawwal are official Eid Al Fitr holidays. This means March 20-22 are the official Eid Al Fitr dates in UAE.
However, if Ramadan lasts 30 days, the last day of the holy month will also be treated as an official holiday.
As reported by Khaleej Times in February, this means that residents will enjoy a four-day break, starting from tomorrow (Thursday, March 19) until Sunday, March 22.
Kuwait
The Sharia Vision Authority in Kuwait confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that Thursday is the last day of the holy month of Ramadan. This means that Friday, March 20, is the first day of Eid Al Fitr this year.
Qatar
The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs' crescent moon sighting committee announced that Thursday, March 19, will be the 30th and final day of the holy month of Ramadan, with Eid Al Fitr starting Friday.
This came in the Committee's statement after its meeting at the Ministry's headquarters on Wednesday evening, which corresponds to Ramadan 29, 1447 H.
The statement added that the crescent moon of the new month of Shawwal was not sighted this evening, which means that the first day of the blessed Eid Al Fitr in the State of Qatar will be Friday, March 20, 2026.
Oman
The main committee for sighting the crescent moon met on Thursday evening, and declared that the festival would start on Friday, March 20.
The committee met at the General Diwan of the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs to investigate the sighting of the crescent moon of Shawwal, to determine the first day of Eid Al Fitr.
Bahrain
The Moon Sighting Committee of Bahrain announced that Thursday, March 19, will be the last day of Ramadan for the year 1447 AH. This means that Friday, March 20, will be the first day of Eid Al Fitr.
In a statement, the committee said it convened on the evening of Wednesday, March 18 (29 Ramadan 1447 AH) at the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) for the sighting of the Shawwal crescent.
As no sightings were confirmed by the time the statement was issued, Ramadan will complete thirty days on Thursday, and Eid Al Fitr will begin on Friday for the year 1447 AH.
