When will Ramadan 2026 begin in UAE and how long will the Eid holiday last?
Moon predictions, Laylat Al Qadr and holiday timing explained for residents and visitors
DUBAI – Dubai’s Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) has released its Hijri to Gregorian calendar for 2026, giving the clearest picture yet of when Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr are likely to fall.
As always, the dates remain provisional until the UAE Moon-Sighting Committee confirms the appearance of the crescent moon closer to the time. Even so, astronomical calculations and the IACAD calendar now provide residents, employers and families across the UAE with a reliable window for planning.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and one of the most important periods of the year for Muslims, marked by fasting from dawn to sunset, increased prayer and acts of charity. In the UAE, the holy month also reshapes daily life, from working hours and school schedules to the rhythm of dining, shopping and socialising across cities such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
Expected dates for Ramadan 2026
According to IACAD’s Hijri to Gregorian date conversion tool, Ramadan in 2026 is expected to begin between Tuesday, February 17 and Thursday, February 19, with Wednesday, February 18 currently the most likely first day. The variation reflects the traditional requirement to confirm the start of each Islamic month by sighting the crescent moon.
Astronomical calculations cited by Islamic authorities in the UAE also point to Thursday, February 19 as a possible start date if the moon is not visible the previous evening. In practical terms, this means residents should expect Ramadan to begin in the third week of February, subject to official confirmation.
Ramadan lasts either 29 or 30 days. Based on the IACAD calendar, the fasting month is expected to end on Thursday, March 19, 2026, if it runs for 29 days. If the crescent moon for Shawwal is not sighted that evening, Ramadan would complete 30 days and finish on Friday, March 20 instead.
Laylat Al Qadr
One of the most spiritually significant moments of the entire Islamic year is Laylat Al Qadr, or the Night of Power, when Muslims believe the first verses of the Quran were revealed. It falls during the last 10 nights of Ramadan, traditionally on one of the odd-numbered nights.
For 2026, IACAD’s official calendar of religious events indicates that Laylat Al Qadr is expected on the night of Tuesday, March 17. Mosques across the UAE are usually especially busy on this night, with extended prayers and Quran recitation continuing into the early hours.
Eid al Fitr timing
The conclusion of Ramadan brings Eid Al Fitr, the festival that marks the breaking of the fast. In the UAE, Eid Al Fitr 2026 is currently expected to begin on Friday, March 20, if Ramadan lasts 29 days. If Ramadan runs for 30 days, Eid would instead start on Saturday, March 21.
Under UAE law, the first three days of Shawwal are designated as a public holiday for both the public and private sectors. This means Eid Al Fitr will create one of the first long weekends of 2026, with the exact length confirmed once the moon sighting determines whether Ramadan is 29 or 30 days.
School breaks
The timing of Ramadan in 2026 aligns closely with the UAE’s spring school holidays, giving families a longer window to observe the holy month and celebrate Eid together.
Private schools in Dubai that follow the September academic calendar are scheduled to begin their spring break on March 16 and resume classes on March 30. Schools following the Ministry of Education (MOE) curriculum will observe spring break from March 16 to March 29. This overlap means the final days of Ramadan, Laylat Al Qadr and the Eid Al Fitr holiday will fall squarely within the school break for most pupils.
Daily life
During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from food, drink and smoking during daylight hours. The fast is broken each evening with iftar, while suhoor is eaten before dawn to prepare for the day ahead. In many parts of the UAE, traditional cannon firings are used to signal the time for iftar.
Working hours in both the public and private sectors are reduced during the holy month, and in recent years flexible and remote-working arrangements have also been introduced. Public school students typically follow adjusted schedules, including distance learning one day per week during Ramadan.
For non-Muslims and visitors, eating and drinking in public is allowed throughout the day, and restaurants operate as normal, although many venues focus more heavily on evening dining and Ramadan-specific menus. Shopping centres, parks and markets usually stay open late into the night, reflecting the shift in social life towards the evening hours.
Iftar customs
Iftar and suhoor are central to the Ramadan experience in the UAE. Hotels, restaurants and Ramadan tents across Dubai and the wider country offer special set menus and traditional Emirati and regional dishes, often becoming focal points for family and corporate gatherings.
If invited to someone’s home for iftar or suhoor, it is customary to bring a small gift such as dates, chocolates, sweets, a dessert or flowers as a gesture of thanks. These gatherings often extend well into the night, especially during the last 10 days of the month.
Moon sighting
While calendars and astronomical models provide strong guidance, the UAE Moon-Sighting Committee has the final authority on when Ramadan and Eid begin. The committee meets close to the expected dates to observe the crescent moon and issue an official announcement.
For 2026, both IACAD and astronomical bodies, including those linked to the International Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences in the UAE, indicate that the current predictions are unlikely to be more than a day or two out. Residents and businesses are therefore able to plan for a mid-February start to Ramadan, a late-March Eid Al Fitr and a spring season shaped by one of the most important months in the Islamic calendar.