UAE announces Eid Al Fitr 2026 prayer timings for all seven emirates
Early morning schedule released ahead of moon-sighting decision
DUBAI – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced Eid Al Fitr prayer timings across the seven emirates, setting out the early morning schedule that worshippers are expected to follow on the first day of the festival.
The timings come as preparations intensify across the country for one of the most important dates on the Islamic calendar.
The exact day of Eid remains subject to the official moon-sighting decision, but the prayer schedule has now been confirmed for each emirate.
Eid prayer across UAE
According to the announced timings, Eid prayer will take place at 6.20am in Abu Dhabi, 6.18am in Dubai, 6.16am in Sharjah and Ajman, 6.12am in Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah, and 6.10am in Fujairah. The staggered schedule reflects the slight variation in sunrise times from one emirate to another, with Fujairah set for the earliest prayer and Abu Dhabi the latest among the seven.
The release of the timings gives residents and visitors a clearer picture of how the first hours of Eid Al Fitr are expected to unfold, particularly as families make plans for prayer, visits and holiday travel. Across the UAE, Eid prayer typically draws large congregations shortly after sunrise, making the confirmation of timings an important part of the wider holiday preparations.
Moon sighting decision
The first day of Eid Al Fitr is still awaiting formal confirmation by the moon-sighting committee. The committee is expected to convene after Maghreb prayer to determine whether Shawwal has begun, which will decide whether Eid falls on Thursday or Friday. Earlier forecasts carried by local reporting had indicated that Friday, March 20, 2026, was the more likely date, though the final decision remains with the official sighting process.
That has kept attention firmly on the official announcement, with communities across the country waiting for the final call before the holiday begins. The timing release, however, ensures that mosques and worshippers are already aligned on the schedule once the date is declared.
Holiday plans
The announcement also arrives as authorities and service providers across the UAE prepare for the Eid break, traditionally one of the busiest travel and movement periods of the year. Prayer timings are often among the first key details residents look for, as they shape family schedules from the very start of the day. In many neighbourhoods, worshippers head out well before dawn, and the confirmed timetable is expected to help manage arrivals smoothly across mosques in all seven emirates.
For worshippers across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, the first gathering of Eid morning is now set to begin shortly after sunrise, once the official start of Shawwal is declared.