The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has officially announced that Eid al-Fitr 1447 AH will begin on Friday, March 20, 2026. The declaration follows the meeting of the national moon-sighting committee on Wednesday evening, March 18, which confirmed that the Shawwal crescent moon was not sighted. In accordance with the Saudi Supreme Court's announcement, the holy month of Ramadan will officially last for 30 days this year.

Consequently, Thursday, March 19, will be observed as the final day of fasting, concluding the month of spiritual reflection and devotion for millions across the Kingdom and the wider Islamic world. Eid 2026 Date in India: When Is Eid Ul Fitr and Shawwal Moon Sighting?

March 20 Confirmed as Eid 2026 Date in Saudi Arabia

The committee’s verification process aligns with the long-standing Islamic tradition of determining the start and end of lunar months through physical observation. While astronomical data had earlier suggested that sighting the new moon on Wednesday would be challenging, the official religious verdict remains the final authority for the commencement of the festival. Eid 2026 Moon Sighting Live News Updates.

The Saudi announcement serves as a key indicator for many other nations and Muslim communities globally. Following this official decree, several other countries in the Middle East and Gulf regions are expected to issue similar declarations shortly, confirming a Friday celebration for Eid al-Fitr 2026.

TruLY Score by LatestLY
Rating:3

TruLY Score 3 – Believable; Needs Further Research | On a Trust Scale of 0-5 this article has scored 3 on LatestLY, this article appears believable but may need additional verification. It is based on reporting from news websites or verified journalists (Gulf News), but lacks supporting official confirmation. Readers are advised to treat the information as credible but continue to follow up for updates or confirmations

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 18, 2026 08:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).