Saudi Arabia has announced that Eid ul-Fitr will be observed on March 20, 2026, saying the Shawwal crescent was not sighted and the kingdom completed 30 days of fasting. The announcement followed a meeting of the kingdom’s moon‑sighting committee, which reviewed reports in keeping with the long‑standing Islamic practice of determining months by lunar observation.
The exact date and timing may still vary by country. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates typically issue the earliest decisions, with authorities in South Asia — including India and Pakistan — confirming Chand Raat after local sunset sightings. Local moon‑sighting committees and religious bodies will make the final calls.
Eid ul‑Fitr, also called Meethi Eid, marks the end of Ramadan and is commonly known as the “Festival of Breaking the Fast.” In the Islamic lunar calendar it falls on the first days of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Hijri year. Observance depends on whether the new crescent is seen after the last day of Ramadan.
Separately, the Saudi Supreme Court issued an official statement on Monday saying the kingdom was likely to sight the Shawwal crescent on the evening of Wednesday, March 18. If that sighting occurred, Eid would begin on Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and neighbouring Gulf states. South Asian countries often observe Eid one day later.
This has led to differing dates in reports: some sources list March 19 or 20 for Gulf countries and March 20 for India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. On the night of March 19 local time, many in South Asia are expected to observe the final day of Roza and attempt to sight the moon; communities that confirm the crescent will celebrate Eid on Friday, March 20. Final confirmation will come from official moon‑sighting committees and religious authorities after sunset (Chand Raat).
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/eid-al-fitr-2026-moon-sighting-date-time-live-updates-moonrise-date-and-timings-in-saudi-arabia-the-uae-india-pakistan-10587936/
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Publish Date: 2026-03-19 06:09:00
