Key Takeaways
- The official Ramadan crescent sighting for 1447 AH is scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
- If sighted, fasting begins Wednesday, February 18; if not, Ramadan starts Thursday, February 19.
- The final decision rests solely with the Saudi Supreme Court’s committee.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced that the official search for the Ramadan crescent (hilal) for the year 1447 AH will be conducted on the evening of Tuesday, 29 Sha’ban 1447, corresponding to February 17, 2026.
If the new moon is visually confirmed by the Supreme Court’s moon-sighting committee after sunset on that date, then Wednesday, February 18, 2026, will be declared the first day of Ramadan, with the dawn fast beginning that morning.
If the crescent is not sighted, Sha’ban will be completed as 30 days, making Thursday, February 19, 2026, the first day of Ramadan.
The official visual sighting, which will be conducted by accredited observers across the country, is the decisive religious mechanism in the Kingdom, overriding any preliminary astronomical calculations.
An official national announcement will follow the committee’s verdict.
The expected start dates align with the winter season, promising moderate fasting hours of approximately 12 to 13 hours daily.