Jeddah, MINA – A number of countries in the Middle East have announced that the crescent moon (hilal) marking the beginning of Shawwal 1447 AH was not sighted, leading to the determination that Eid al-Fitr will fall on Friday, March 20, 2026.
Authorities in several countries confirmed that moon sighting efforts conducted on the evening of Wednesday (March 18) did not yield any confirmed sightings of the hilal. As a result, Ramadan will be completed to 30 days in accordance with Islamic guidelines.
The announcement aligns with astronomical analyses indicating that the crescent moon would be difficult or impossible to observe in many regions due to its position relative to the sun.
In Saudi Arabia, the Supreme Court also declared that the crescent moon was not observed in multiple observation points, thus confirming that Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated on Friday.
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Similar reports came from other countries across the Middle East, where official moon sighting committees likewise reported no confirmed visibility of the hilal on the same night.
Based on these findings, Muslim communities in those countries will complete the month of Ramadan to 30 days, making Friday, March 20, 2026, the first day of Shawwal and the celebration of Eid al-Fitr. []
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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