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Eid Al Fitr 2026: UAE announces March 20 as start of festival
Islamic months last either 29 or 30 days depending on when the moon is sighted
- PUBLISHED: Wed 18 Mar 2026, 7:57 PM UPDATED: Wed 18 Mar 2026, 9:18 PM
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.
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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.
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The announcement also means that residents in UAE will continue fasting for one more day before the holy month ends.
The UAE-based International Astronomy Centre (IAC) had earlier predicted that sighting the Shawwal crescent on March 18 would be "impossible", meaning Ramadan could complete 30 days. As per the astronomical calculations, the centre predicted that Eid Al Fitr would likely fall on March 20 in the UAE and several other countries.
What about other countries?
Several other countries also announced Eid Al Fitr holidays in advance this year. Qatar, for example, is enjoying what may be the longest break among GCC countries. The country announced a week-long holiday, starting from Tuesday, March 17, and ending on Monday, March 23.
Meanwhile, Oman is set to enjoy five days off, while Saudi Arabia will — like the UAE — enjoy four days off.
Some countries determine the beginnings of Hijri months based on prior astronomical calculations, not on moon sightings. Turkey and Singapore are two such countries. Their calculations take into account the possibility of the crescent moon's visibility.
Due to the possibility of sighting the crescent on Thursday, Turkey has announced that Friday, March 20, will be the first day of Eid Al Fitr in the country. Singapore, on the other hand, has announced that Saturday, March 21, will be the first day of Eid, due to the impossibility of sighting the crescent from Singapore on Thursday.
