Dubai: Several countries have confirmed that Eid Al Fitr will be observed on Friday, March 20, 2026, after completing 30 days of Ramadan, as the Shawwal crescent was not sighted.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait are among the nations where the crescent was not sighted, leading them to declare Friday as Eid. Meanwhile, Turkey has relied on astronomical calculations to determine that Friday will be the day of Eid, whereas in Australia, both calculations and moon observations confirmed Friday as the day of celebration.
In addition to these countries, Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, and Iraq have officially announced Friday as the day for Eid Al Fitr. However, Singapore has declared that it will celebrate Eid on Saturday, March 21, due to the impossibility of sighting the crescent from Singapore on Thursday.
While some countries will attempt to sight the crescent on Wednesday, March 18, others will hold moon-sighting moments on Thursday, March 19. For many, the 29th of Ramadan falls tomorrow, meaning Eid could be on Friday or Saturday, depending on the sighting. Countries observing the crescent tomorrow include Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, parts of Iraq, Oman, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Mauritania.
Residents are advised to follow official announcements for prayer timings and celebrations to ensure a safe and joyful start to Eid Al Fitr.