18 Mar, 21:38 (IST)

The moon for Shawwal 1447 was not sighted in Kuwait and Bahrain this evening. Consequently, Muslims in both the countries will celebrate Eid 2026 on Friday, March 20.

18 Mar, 21:26 (IST)

The Shawwal 1447 moon was not sighted anywhere in the UAE. Therefore, Ramadan shall complete 30 days tomorrow, March 19, and Muslims will celebrate Eid 2026 on March 20.

18 Mar, 21:24 (IST)

Qatar has officially confirmed that Eid al-Fitr 2026 will be celebrated on Friday, March 20. The Crescent Sighting Committee at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) announced that because the Shawwal moon was not sighted on Wednesday evening, Ramadan will complete a full 30-day cycle.

18 Mar, 21:09 (IST)

Efforts to sight the Shawwal moon are currently underway in the UAE. If the moon is sighted, the UAE will celebrate Eid 2026 tomorrow, March 19. Ramadan shall complete 30 and Eid al-Fitr will fall on March 20 in case the moon remains invisible this evening.

18 Mar, 20:51 (IST)

Saudi Arabia has officially announced that Eid al-Fitr 2026 will begin on Friday, March 20. The decision follows the moon-sighting committee's verification that the Shawwal crescent was not visible on Wednesday, March 18. Consequently, Ramadan will complete a full 30 days, with the festival starting Friday in accordance with Islamic lunar tradition.

18 Mar, 20:20 (IST)

The Supreme Court session to sight the Shawwal moon and verify reports of the sightings, if available, has begun Saudi Arabia. A final announcement whether the moon is sighted or not will be made shortly. Stay here to know the Eid 2026 date in Saudi Arabia.

18 Mar, 19:26 (IST)

Prominent astronomical expert Adel Yousef Al-Marzouq has announced that Eid al-Fitr is expected to fall on Friday, March 20, 2026. According to a report by Al-Rai daily, Al-Marzouq’s calculations suggest that the holy month of Ramadan will complete a full 30-day cycle for many Gulf nations.Al-Marzouq explained that observing the Shawwal crescent on Wednesday evening, March 18, will be "extremely difficult," making a confirmed sighting tonight highly unlikely. Due to the moon's position and timing, the crescent is expected to remain invisible to the naked eye and standard optical equipment across much of the region.However, the expert noted that visibility will improve significantly by Thursday evening, March 19. At that time, the crescent is expected to appear larger, higher in the sky, and much easier to detect for both moon-sighting committees and the general public.While countries that commenced fasting on February 18 are projected to complete a full 30 days, nations that started their fast on February 19 are expected to observe a 29-day month, the astronomer noted.

18 Mar, 19:06 (IST)

According to Saudi's Supreme Court, 12 observatories are investigating the sighting of the crescent moon of the month of Shawwal. The moon sighting will determine the date for Eid al-Fitr 2026 in the country.

18 Mar, 17:56 (IST)

The search for Shawwal moon is set to begin shortly in Saudi Arabia. The moon sighting will determine the date for Eid al-Fitr 2026. Announcement of the results of the search will be made around 6:10 pm (Makkah time).

18 Mar, 17:28 (IST)

The UAE’s National Center of Meteorology (NCM) has issued a weather forecast for March 18, predicting partly cloudy to cloudy conditions and chance of light rain in scattered areas. This could complicate the sighting of the Shawwal crescent this evening. In addition to cloud cover, the NCM has forecasted strong northwesterly winds reaching speeds of up to 40 km/h. These winds are expected to kick up dust and sand in some regions, further reducing horizontal visibility for those attempting to spot the moon. Despite the challenging weather conditions, the UAE’s official moon-sighting committee is scheduled to meet following the Maghrib prayers. If the crescent is sighted, Eid al-Fitr 2026 will officially begin tomorrow, Thursday, March 19. In case the crescent is not sighted, Ramadan will complete 30 days, and Eid will be celebrated on Friday, March 20.

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Millions of worshippers across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Yemen, Palestine and Afghanistan are turning their eyes to the sky this evening, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, to sight the Shawwal crescent moon. The moon sighting will determine the end of Ramadan and the official commencement of Eid al-Fitr 2026. If the crescent is spotted tonight, Eid 2026 will be celebrated tomorrow, Thursday, March 19. If not, the festival will fall on Friday, March 20. Catch live news updates here on the Eid moon sighting announcements from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Yemen, Palestine, Afghanistan, the US, UK, Canada and France.

The Islamic calendar is based on a lunar system, where the beginning of each month depends on the first appearance of the new crescent moon. A lunar month typically lasts either 29 or 30 days. Today marks the 29th day of Ramadan, also known as Chand Raat, for most Middle Eastern nations and some communities in the US, UK, Canada and France. Eid 2026 Moon Sighting: Will Shawwal Crescent Be Sighted Today?

Eid Moon Sighting 2026 Today in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Other Gulf Nations

The Saudi Supreme Court has officially called upon citizens and residents to look for the moon following the Maghrib prayer. Similar calls have been issued by religious authorities in the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. In conflict zones and nations like Yemen, Palestine, and Afghanistan, local committees are also coordinating to verify any potential sightings.

While astronomical data from the International Astronomy Center suggests that the moon may be difficult to view this evening due to its early setting time, the religious tradition of physical observation remains the final authority for an official declaration. Eid 2026 Date in India: When Is Eid Ul Fitr and Shawwal Moon Sighting?

Split Shawwal Moon Sighting Schedules in the UK, US, Canada and France

In Western nations like the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and France, Muslim communities often navigate a split schedule regarding Eid dates. This occurs because different organizations follow different sighting criteria:

  • Global Sighting: Many mosques and communities follow the official announcement from Saudi Arabia.

  • Local Sighting: Other regional bodies prioritise local moon sightings or astronomical calculations specific to their geographic location.

While some communities in the US, UK, Canada and France will look for the Eid moon this evening, those who began Ramadan fasting from February 19 will observe the moon sighting tomorrow, March 19.

When Is Eid 2026 in India and Pakistan?

In countries such as India and Pakistan, where Ramadan began a day later (February 19), the moon sighting attempt will not take place until tomorrow, Thursday, March 19. Consequently, Eid in South Asia is expected to be observed on either Friday or Saturday, depending on the local visibility of the crescent.

As the sun sets across the Middle East, the world awaits the official verdict from Riyadh, which typically sets the pace for the majority of the global Muslim population.