Millions of residents across the UAE are awaiting official confirmation of the date of Eid Al Fitr 2026, one of the most important religious and public holidays in the country, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.The Sharjah Academy of Astronomy, Space Science and Technology, represented by the Sharjah Astronomical Observatory, issued its early predictions about when the festival is expected to start.According to the academy, the first day of Eid al-Fitr in the UAE is likely to fall on March 20.Calculations revealed that the month of Ramadan 1447 AH will complete 30 days, with Friday being the first day of Shawwal and the beginning of Eid al-Fitr in the Emirates.
Moon sighting schedule
On Wednesday, March 18, the 29th day of Ramadan, and the traditional night of sighting the crescent, the crescent will not be seen as the moon will set before the sun sets in the western sky. Astronomers explained that the country will observe the month of Ramadan that evening, meaning that Thursday, March 19, will be the completion date of the holy month. The observatory indicated that the new crescent will be seen in the skies of Sharjah at 4:24 am UAE time on March 19, 2026.
By sunset, the crescent moon will be about 14 hours and 6 minutes old with an angular separation from the sun of 6.5 degrees, an elevation of six degrees above the western horizon and a viewing window of about 29 minutes after sunset.
Seeing the moon will be difficult
According to the observatory, the conditions for seeing the moon in the Emirates will be “critical” or unfavorable. She added that monitoring the crescent moon locally will be very difficult, even with the help of telescopes. The scene can only be captured using advanced techniques such as image collage, and it will not be possible to see it with the naked eye in the UAE. Some Arab and Islamic countries located to the west may enjoy the possibility of seeing the crescent moon, as geographical and astronomical conditions may be more suitable. Based on these calculations, the academy concluded that Friday, March 20, will likely be the beginning of the month of Shawwal and the first day of Eid al-Fitr in the UAE and most Islamic countries.