Saudi Arabia Sets Wednesday Start to Ramadan 2026

Hundreds of millions of Muslims worldwide are preparing to observe Ramadan, and charity. Saudi Arabia and some Gulf countries announced Wednesday as the start, while others including Jordan, Oman, Syria, and Turkey expect Thursday. The differing dates stem from traditional moon-sighting practices versus modern astronomical calculations, which sometimes lead to disagreements on the crescent moon’s visibility.

Hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world are preparing to observe the holy month of Ramadan after Saudi astronomers reported sighting the new crescent moon on Tuesday evening. Ramadan is a period during which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs, and breaking their fast with an iftar meal after sunset. Beyond fasting, the month is considered a sacred time for increased worship, reflection, prayer, and charitable activities. It also serves as an opportunity for families and communities to come together, share meals, and strengthen social and spiritual bonds, culminating in the Islamic festival of Eid al-Fitr and Turkey declared that Ramadan would begin on Thursday.
Traditionally, Saudi religious authorities have relied on direct visual sighting of the crescent moon to determine the start of Ramadan, a practice that has been followed since the time of Prophet Mohammed. Teams of observers are stationed in areas with minimal light pollution to monitor the sky after evening prayers. These teams report their findings to the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia, which then formally announces the commencement of the holy month.
With the advent of modern astronomy, the accuracy of predicting crescent moon visibility has increased, but disagreements persist. Some experts have argued that the crescent moon would not be visible on Tuesday. For example, the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology in the UAE, as well as Oman’s Main Committee for Moon Sighting, both stated that the crescent would only be visible on Wednesday night, meaning Ramadan should begin on Thursday. Imad Ahmed, founder and director of the New Crescent Society, told Middle East Eye that on February 17, 2026, the crescent moon is astronomically impossible to see anywhere in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, or Europe, even with high-powered telescopes.
Saudi Arabia has previously faced similar disagreements in past years, sometimes declaring the start of Ramadan despite other astronomers asserting that moon sightings were impossible. Such differences highlight the continuing tension between traditional religious practices based on visual sightings and the modern scientific approach to astronomical calculations, which some Muslim communities increasingly rely upon to unify the observance of Ramadan.
The month of Ramadan thus begins amid a blend of tradition, faith, and scientific debate, with millions of Muslims worldwide preparing to fast, pray, give charity, and celebrate the spirit of community, while respecting the different start dates observed by various nations.