US EditionSaudi Arabia announces start of Ramadan on Wednesday
Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbors confirmed Ramadan begins Wednesday after moon sighting, while some countries expect Thursday, reflecting differing moon visibility interpretations.
- On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia's royal court and the Saudi Press Agency announced Wednesday as the first day of Ramadan after the crescent moon was sighted on Tuesday evening.
- After evening prayers, teams of observers filed sighting reports to the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia, and for the first time, authorities used the Sudair Observatory alongside traditional methods.
- Gulf states followed Saudi's timing, saying the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait will observe Ramadan starting Wednesday, while Indonesia and Malaysia announced Thursday after lunar sightings across 29 locations on Tuesday.
- Hundreds of millions of Muslims will begin fasting after evening prayers from 7.30pm to around 9pm, with some communities starting Thursday.
- The Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology and Oman's Main Committee for Moon Sighting advised starting Ramadan on Thursday after stating the moon would not be visible until Wednesday night, while opposing astronomers argued the crescent was astronomically impossible to see on Tuesday.
23 Articles
23 Articles
Ramadan 2026 moon sighted in India, US, UK? Hilal sighting committees to confirm first day of fasting; is it from February 19 or 20 and why is crescent timing significant
Muslims worldwide eagerly await the Ramadan crescent moon sighting, marking the start of the holy month. This year, fasting is expected to begin on February 18th in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, while South Asia, Europe, and North America may commence on February 19th due to local sighting ...
Ramazan moon sighted in Saudi Arabia, UAE
The Ramazan moon was sighted in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday night, according to Gulf News. In separate reports, the publication said that Wednesday (Feb 18) would be the first day of the holy month in both countries. The official Saudi Press Agency also said on X that Wednesday would be the first day of the holy month in the kingdom. Tolo News, meanwhile, also announced that Ramazan would begin on February 18 in Afghani…
Both Saudi Arabia and Qatar have confirmed the start date of the holy month of Ramadan, announcing that Wednesday, February 19, 2026, will be the first day of the blessed month for the year 1447 AH, after the sighting of the crescent moon was confirmed by the relevant authorities in both countries.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
