ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The forecasted commencement dates for Ramadan 2026, along with the expected dates for Eid al-Fitr, have been announced for the UAE.
According to the IACAD and Hijri-to-Gregorian date conversion tool, the beginning of Ramadan is predicted to fall between the 17th and 19th of February 2026; hence, it shall start on Thursday, 19 February.
According to IACAD’s 2026 calendar, Ramadan will fall on Thursday, 19 March 2026. Similar to all Islamic months, Ramadan can last for either 29 or 30 days due to the lunar cycle.
Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan and the completion of the fasting period, is expected to be on Friday, 20 March 2026, which will mark the beginning of the country’s first long weekend of the year.
Ramadan and School Holidays in the UAE
Ramadan coincides with the spring break schedule of schools. The private schools in Dubai that begin their academic year in September start their spring break on 16 March and resume classes on 30 March.
Spring break for curriculum-based schools under the Ministry of Education will start from 16 March until 29 March. This overlapping period allows families to spend the last days of Ramadan and Eid together, making it a long festive season.
Earlier this month, UAE astronomers had made the first prediction on the start date of Ramadan. As projected by the Emirates Astronomical Society, the holy month of Ramadan is most likely to fall on Thursday, 19 February 2026.
The chairman of the society, Ibrahim Al Jarwan, explained that the new crescent moon of Ramadan will appear on Tuesday, 17 February at 4:01 PM UAE time.
Nevertheless, it will set just one minute after sunset and thus cannot be seen in the evening. It is thus expected that the first day of Ramadan will fall on Thursday, 19 February, and the start will be confirmed by the relevant committees.
At the beginning of Ramadan, fasting in Abu Dhabi will last for about 12 hours and 46 minutes, extending to about 13 hours and 25 minutes by the end of the month.
