Moon Not Sighted; Eid 2026 in Saudi Arabia, Arab States Friday
The New Moon has not sighted in Saudi Arabia today, accordingly Eid al Fitr will be celebrated in the Kingdom and other Arab States on Friday March 20, 2026, the Royal Court said.
Eid 2026 Moon Sighting Live Updates: Afghanistan is the only country so far to mark Eid al Fitr on Thursday March 19, 2026.
"The High Court of the Islamic Emirate has declared tomorrow (Thursday) as the first day of Eid al-Fitr", local media reported.
Afghanistan's Supreme Court announced that numerous people in Farah, Helmand, and Ghor provinces have sighted the Crescent Moon today (Wednesday March 18, 2026), and their testimony has been officially deemed credible.
Countries that have announced Friday March 20, 2026 as the First Day of Eid al Fitr
- Saudi Arabia
- Qatar
- Kuwait
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Bahrain
- Yemen
- Palestine
- Turkey
- Lebanon
- Jordan
- Philippines
- United States of America
- France
- Australia
- Germany
Countries where Eid Moon Sighting is on Thursday March 19, 2026
- India
- Pakistan
- Bangladesgh
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- Nepal
- United Kingdom (UK)
- Singapore
- New Zealand
- Sri Lanka
These countries will confirm the first day of Eid al Fitr based on the sighting of Moon on Thursday.
06:50 PM (Makkah Time): Eid 2026 Moon Not Sighted in Saudi Arabia
The New Moon has not sighted in Saudi Arabia today, accordingly Eid al Fitr will be celebrated in the Kingdom and other Arab States on Friday March 20, 2026, the Royal Court said.
"Eid Al-Fitr will be celebrated on Friday in Saudi Arabia after the Shawwal crescent moon was not sighted on Wednesday evening", the Saudi Supreme Court announced.
Similar announcements have also been made by the reiligious authorties in the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and other Middle East countries.
Not sighting of the Eid Moon today means Ramdan this year will have a total of 30 days with Thursday March 19 being 30th Ramadan 1447 H, and Friday March 20, 2026 will be marked as the first day of Eid al Fitr.
05:30 PM (Makkah Time): Eid 2026 Moon Sighting announcement shortly
The Moon Sighters led by Chief Observer Dr Abdullah Al-Khudairi have reached Sudair and Tumair - Saudi Arabia’s primary official observatories in Riyadh, for Eid Moon sighting.
The Eid Moon announcement by the Saudi Royal Court will follow based on the reports submitted by the official observatories.
05:00 PM (Makkah Time): Moon Sighters on their way to observatories
A team of observers appointed by The Saudi Royal Court are set to station at Sudair and Tumair - Saudi Arabia’s primary official observatories for moon sighting in Riyadh.
A team of observers appointed by The Saudi Royal Court are set to station at Sudair and Tumair - Saudi Arabia’s primary official observatories for moon sighting in Riyadh a little while from now.
Announcement of the results of the Eid Moon Search will be made around 6:10 PM Makkah Time today i.e. Wednesday March 18, 2026.
12:30 PM (Makkah Time): UAE restricts Eid Prayers on open grounds
The UAE said Eid Al Fitr prayers this year will be limited to mosques for security reasons, the General Authority for Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat announced on Wednesday.
Gatherings in Eid prayer grounds or open areas will be restricted and worship services will be held only in mosques, the authority clarified. This step, they said, aligns with the measures taken by the country to ensure the safety of faithful.
The Islamic Affairs Department and Charitable Work in Dubai, and the Islamic Affairs Department in Sharjah, have also coordinated with authorities to make this decision, according to the announcement.
The authority has urged worshippers to adhere to guidelines and arrive early to perform the Eid prayer in mosques to ensure their safety.
Meanwhile, The Keeper of the Rulers' Seal in Malaysia and Religious Affairs Ministryin Indonesia said sighting of the Eid Moon will be on Thursday March 19, 2026.
The Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs conducts official sightings (rukyatul hilal) at multiple points nationwide. The start of 1 Shawwal 1447 Hijriyah will be determined during an isbat session scheduled for March 19, 2026, the Ministry said.
The authorities in Morocco also said they will confirm the first day of Eid after sighting on Moon on Tursday. In New Zealand, the sighting of the Moon will be on Friday, local Muslim groups said.
09:30 AM (Makkah Time): USA, France Confirms First Day of Eid
Even as the Saudi Royal Court and religious authorities in the Arab and other Middle Eastern countries are gearing up for the Eid Moon sighting today, USA, Canada, France and other countries have confirmed the first day of the Muslim festival in the respective countries.
In a statement released for general public, the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) announced that Eid al-Fitr 2026 in France will be celebrated on Friday, March 20, 2026.
The Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) has also confirmed the first day of Eid al Fitr as Friday, March 20, 2026.
In a statement released on its website, the Australian National Imams Council also said that the Month of Ramadan will conclude on Thursday, 19th March 2026, which will be the last day of Ramadan for 1447AH I 2026.
"The Day of Eid Al-Fitr will be on Friday, 20th of March 2026, and the first day of the Month of Shawwal 1447AH 1 2026”, it said attributing the decision to Australian Fatwa Council.
Wifaqul Ulama London in the United Kingdom (UK) and Majils Ugama Islam Singpaore will confirm the first day of Eid on Thursday March 19, 2026.
01:00 AM (Makkah Time): Eid 2026 Moon Sighting Today
The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia, Ministry of Justice UAE, Religious Authorities and Moon Sighting Committees in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Morocco, Jordan and other Arab states in separate appeals have called upon the local residents to sight the Crescent, the New Moon, of the month of Shawwal 1447 AH today i.e. Wednesday 29th of Ramadan 1447 AH corresponding to March 18, 2026.
Eid al Fitr marks the end of the Holy Month of Fasting, Ramadan.
"Local residents should report to the nearest court in case the Eid crescent or the New Moon is spotted Wednesday, so that a decision to confirm the first day of Eid al Fitr 2026 is taken", the appeals issued by Saudi Arabia and other countries said.
The Royal Court of Saudi Arabia called on whoever spots the Crescent with naked eyes or through binoculars to report to a nearest court and register his testimony, or report to an authority of a region's centre in his area.
As per the normal practice, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has also announced the formation of a Moon Sighting Committee to spot the crescent.
"The committee will meet after Maghrib prayers on Wednesday 29th of Ramadan 1447 AH corresponding to March 18, 2026 at Abu Dhabi Judicial Department to spot the crescent", the government sources said.
Eid al Fitr 2026 Moon Sighting
Special arrangements have also been made and general appeals issued by the authorities in Qatar and other Gulf states including Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Muscat, Yemen, Sudan, Egypt, Tunisia, Iraq, Syria and Palestine to sight the Eid Moon today on Wednesday 29th of Ramadan 1446 AH of the Islamic Calendar corresponding to March 18, 2026.
"Eid will be celebrated on Thursday March 19, 2026 if the new moon is spotted today. If the moon is not sighted today, then Thursday will mark a regular fasting day, and Eid will be celebrated on Friday March 20, 2026", the Saudi Royal Court said.
However, the Muslims in America and Canada will celebrate Eid on Friday March 20, 2026. In a statement, the Fiqh Council of North America said the Astronomical New Moon will be born on the evening of Thursday, March 19, 2026. On that evening the elongation is more than 8 degrees and the moon is more than 5 degrees above the horizon.
"Hence the first day of Shawwal (ʿEid al-Fitr) is Friday, March 20, 2026, inshā’Allāh", the Council said.
How Eid Moon is confirmed
Islamic Calendar is based on lunar system. Under this system, a new month begins with sighting of the New Moon on 29th of every month. If the crescent is spotted on 29th, the prevailing month ends and the new month begin on the next day.
However, if the moon is not spotted on 29th, the next day is counted as the 30th day of the prevailing month and the new month starts a day later.
Accordingly, Eid al Fitr celebrations in Saudi Arabia will commence on Thursday March 19, 2026 if the New Moon is spotted in the Kingdom today. Else, the first day of Eid will be Friday March 20, 2026.
As for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, Syria, Bahrain, Yemen, also for Turkey, Egypt and Palestine, Eid al Fitr is normally celebrated in these countries along with Saudi Arabia.
Though these countries have their own observatories and moon committees, they normally go with the announcement made by Saudi Arabia.
Eid al Fitr 2026 Moon Sighting in other countries
Muslims in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other South Asian countries will spot the Eid Moon on Thursday March 19, 2026, which coincides with the 29th day of Ramadan in these countries.
Similarly, Muslims in United Kingdom (UK), Australia, Austria, New Zealand, Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia, France, Germany and other countries too will confirm the first day of Eid al Fitr today i.e. Wednesday March 18, 2026.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Palestine and other Arab countries have also announced Eid holidays.
In Saudi, the public holiday for Eid Al Fitr is set to begin on Wednesday, March 18, which corresponds to 29th of Ramadan, 1447 AH, and will last four days for all employees. Normal work will resume on Sunday, March 22, the authority stated.
The UAE has already announced the Eid Al Fitr public holiday for employees in the federal and private sectors. For federal government entities, the Eid Al Fitr holiday will begin on Thursday, March 19, 2026, and continue until Sunday, March 22, 2026. Official working hours will resume on Monday, March 23, 2026.
For the private sector employees, the holiday will run from Thursday, March 19, 2026, until Saturday, March 21, 2026. Employees who normally work on Sundays will be required to return to work on Sunday, March 22.
Eid al Fitr 2026 celebrations in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and other Arab states this year will be held amidst the war between Iran, United States and Israel. However, the Spirit of Eid al Fitr has already taken into its grip the local residents despite the tense situation.
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