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Ramadan 2026 Date: Muslims to Begin Fasting as Saudi Arabia Sights Crescent Moon - Yorkshire Live
Saudi Arabia confirmed Ramadan's start with crescent moon sightings, a practice rooted in Islamic tradition, followed by Gulf neighbors Oman, Qatar, and the UAE.
- Saudi authorities declared on Tuesday that the Saudi royal court ruled witnesses had seen the crescent and set Wednesday as the first day of Ramadan.
- Saudi religious authorities adhere to visual moon sighting, as Ramadan traditionally begins with the crescent moon and they rely on direct sighting rather than astronomical forecasts.
- Teams of observers across Saudi watched for the new crescent on Tuesday and an astronomical observatory more than 100 kilometres northwest of Riyadh hosted observers who scanned the desert sky.
- Many Muslim-majority communities follow Saudi confirmation, and Gulf neighbours Oman, Qatar and the UAE issued similar announcements, setting fasting and prayer timing for hundreds of millions of Muslims.
- Royal Observatory forecasts said the crescent would not be visible on February 17, while UK groups including the New Crescent Society expect Ramadan to start Thursday, February 19.
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Total News Sources15
Leaning Left1Leaning Right0Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution86% Center
Bias Distribution
- 86% of the sources are Center
86% Center
14%
C 86%
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