Ramadan set to begin Wednesday following crescent moon sighting in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has officially announced the sighting of the crescent moon, marking the beginning of Ramadan 1447.

On Tuesday evening, authorities confirmed the appearance of the Hilal (crescent moon), signaling the end of Sha’ban and the start of the holy month. As a result, Ramadan will begin on Wednesday, ushering in a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and spiritual renewal for millions of Muslims around the world.

A post by @Muslim on X read, “BREAKING: Saudi Arabia announces the first day of fasting for Ramadan to begin on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

“Taraweeh will begin tonight on the first evening of the blessed month.

“It’s recommended to follow the fasting time designated by your local community and country.”

Muslims in Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and several other countries will observe their first fast at dawn on Wednesday, marking the start of a month devoted to prayer, reflection and spiritual commitment.

However, in Japan, Ramadan 2026 will begin on Thursday, February 19, as the Hilal Vision Committee confirmed the crescent moon was not sighted.

Muslims across the country are set to begin their first fast on Thursday, heralding the start of the holy month of fasting and prayer.

Meanwhile, Oman, Singapore, and Turkey have officially declared Thursday, February 19, as the first day of Ramadan 2026.

The decision followed the non-sighting of the crescent moon, in accordance with their traditional lunar observation practices. Muslims in these countries will begin fasting on Thursday as the holy month of Ramadan begins.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, which consists of 12 months and spans 354 or 355 days. Since it is based on the lunar cycle, the start date of Ramadan varies each year.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory for healthy adult Muslims. Exemptions, however, apply to young children, the sick, travelers, and women who are pregnant, nursing, or menstruating.

The sighting of the crescent moon is a long-established tradition used to mark the start of Ramadan as well as the major Islamic celebrations of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

During Ramadan, working hours and school schedules are often reduced in many Muslim-majority countries to provide more time for worship and family activities.

Over 1.8 billion Muslims around the world are expected to observe daily fasting from sunrise to sunset throughout the month of Ramadan.