Eid Al Fitr 2026: Shawwal crescent moon sighted in Abu Dhabi on March 19

The crescent moon marking the beginning of the month of Shawwal has been sighted in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, March 19, 2026. This means that tomorrow — Friday, March 20 — is the first day of Eid Al Fitr.

UAE's Astronomy Center announced that the crescent was observed at 5.10pm from the Khatm Astronomical Observatory, affiliated with the International Astronomy Center, in Abu Dhabi.

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Earlier, the UAE officially announced that the festival would begin on Friday, after the crescent marking the end of Ramadan was not sighted on Wednesday night.

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Other GCC countries, namely Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, have also announced that the first day of Eid Al Fitr will be on Friday, March 20. Oman's moon sighting committee is set to meet on Thursday, March 19, evening.

Eid Al Fitr holidays in 2026

Public sector employees in the UAE will enjoy a 4-day break on the occasion — from Thursday, March 19 to Sunday, March 22.

Private sector employees have a 3-day Eid Al Fitr break from Thursday to Saturday. Employees who usually work on Sundays will be required to return to work on March 22.

Written by

Supreeta Balasubramanian

Supreeta is a digital journalist who reads between the lines as she churns out stories. She finds joy in K-pop, exploring new hobbies, and tackling her never-ending list of books to read.