Key Takeaways
- The Shawwal crescent moon was not sighted in Saudi Arabia on the evening of March 18, 2026, despite observations at multiple observatories across the Kingdom.
- Ramadan 1447 AH will complete its full 30 days, placing Eid al-Fitr on Friday, March 20, 2026.
- Eid prayers across Saudi Arabia will be held inside mosques only due to severe weather conditions forecast across the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court had officially called on Muslims across the Kingdom to search for the Shawwal crescent on the evening of March 18, 2026 — the 29th of Ramadan 1447 AH.
Eid al-Fitr 2026 prayer will be let by Sheikh Usaamah Khayatt at Masjid al-Haram on 6:30AM.
After sunset, senior astronomers and moon sighters gathered at observatories spanning the length and breadth of the Kingdom — including Tumair, Sudair, Shaqra, Umm al-Qura, Al-Wajh, Halat Ammar, Qassim, Dammam, Madinah, and Hail — in a coordinated effort to sight the crescent.
Despite exhaustive observations across all sites, the Shawwal crescent could not be confirmed.
The Supreme Court reviewed all reports submitted from observatories and moon sighters across the Kingdom before issuing its official announcement — Ramadan 1447 AH will complete its full 30 days, and Eid al-Fitr 2026 will be celebrated on Friday, March 20, 2026.
With the crescent not sighted on the 29th of Ramadan, the month automatically completes its maximum of 30 days.
Muslims in Saudi Arabia and the many countries that align their Eid date with the Kingdom’s announcement will now celebrate Eid al-Fitr on Friday, March 20, 2026 — marking the end of a full 30 days of fasting, worship, and devotion.
Eid Prayers to Be Held Inside Mosques
The weather adds another dimension to this year’s Eid. The National Centre of Meteorology has forecast severe weather conditions across parts of the Kingdom from Wednesday through Monday, including heavy rain, hail, flash floods, and downdraft winds reaching 60 km/h or more.
In response, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs has directed mosques across affected regions to hold Eid al-Fitr prayers indoors, with open-air prayer areas cancelled entirely to ensure the safety of worshippers.
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