Eid Al Fitr Likely on March 20 in UAE, Astronomers Say The Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology has announced that Eid Al Fitr is expected to fall on Friday, March 20, 2026, based on astronomical calculations. The academy’s observatory determined that Ramadan 1447 AH will complete its 30 days, marking the start of Shawwal and the celebration of Eid Al Fitr in the UAE. Astronomers explained that the crescent moon, which is traditionally used to determine the end of Ramadan, was not visible on Wednesday, March 18, the 29th day of Ramadan. This is because the moon set before sunset in the western horizon, making it impossible to spot locally. As a result, the UAE will continue observing Ramadan on March 18, with Thursday, March 19, completing the holy month. The observatory noted that the new moon will occur over Sharjah at 4:24am UAE time on March 19. By sunset that day, the crescent moon will be approximately 14 hours and six minutes old, with an angular separation of 6.5 degrees from the sun. It will appear six degrees above the western horizon, offering a visibility window of about 29 minutes after sunset. However, the academy described the viewing conditions in the UAE as “critical” or unfavorable, stating that spotting the crescent with the naked eye or even through telescopes would be extremely difficult. Advanced techniques such as image stacking may be required to capture the crescent, but local naked-eye sightings are unlikely. The observatory suggested that the crescent could be observed in some Arab and Islamic countries further west, where geographical and astronomical conditions might be more favorable. Based on these calculations, the academy concluded that Friday, March 20, will likely mark the beginning of Shawwal and the first day of Eid Al Fitr in the UAE and most Islamic countries.#shawwal #uae #eid_al_fitr #ramadan_1447_ah
Eid Al Fitr 2026 Likely to Fall on March 20 in UAE, Say Sharjah Astronomers Millions of residents across the United Arab Emirates are awaiting official confirmation of the Eid Al Fitr 2026 date, a major religious and public holiday marking the end of Ramadan. The Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology, through its Sharjah Astronomical Observatory, has released an early prediction indicating that the festival is expected to begin on March 20. According to the academy, Ramadan 1447 AH will complete 30 days, making Friday the first day of Shawwal and the start of Eid Al Fitr in the UAE. The moon sighting timeline for the holy month of Ramadan is critical in determining the exact date. On March 18, the 29th day of Ramadan, the crescent moon will not be visible as the moon will set before sunset in the western skies. Astronomers explained that the country will observe Ramadan on that evening, meaning March 19 will mark the completion of the holy month. The observatory noted that the new moon will occur over Sharjah at 4:24 am UAE time on March 19, 2026. By sunset, the crescent moon will be approximately 14 hours and 6 minutes old, with an angular separation from the sun of 6.5 degrees, an altitude of six degrees above the western horizon, and a visibility window of around 29 minutes after sunset. However, the viewing conditions for the moon in the UAE are described as "critical" or unfavorable. The observatory stated that spotting the crescent locally would be extremely difficult, even with the aid of telescopes. Advanced techniques such as image stacking may be required to capture the crescent, and naked-eye observation is unlikely to succeed.#shawwal #eid_al_fitr #sharjah_academy #sharjah_astronomical_observatory #ramadan
