Clear your calendars and prepare the lanterns, Ramadan 2026 is shaping up to be one of the more comfortable holy months the UAE has seen in years. Falling neatly at the tail end of winter and easing into early spring, this year’s Ramadan promises milder temperatures, slightly shorter fasting hours, and a potential long weekend to cap it all off.

Thanks to confirmed moon sightings earlier this year, astronomers are now able to narrow down the most likely dates with impressive accuracy. With Shaaban officially beginning on January 20, the countdown to Ramadan has well and truly begun.

So when does Ramadan start?

The UAE will look for the Ramadan crescent moon on the evening of February 17, though experts say visibility that night is unlikely. All eyes will instead be on February 18, which is expected to offer the clearest chance of spotting the crescent. If sighted, Ramadan will begin on Wednesday, February 19, a date that also appears on the official Awqaf calendar.

That places the holy month squarely in a sweet seasonal spot. Expect pleasant evenings for iftar gatherings, cooler nights for prayers, and daytime temperatures that won’t feel quite as punishing as peak-summer Ramadans of the past. Early in the month, daytime highs should hover in the mid-20s°C, slowly climbing toward the high-20s°C as Ramadan progresses.

Fasting hours are also getting a small but welcome break. Compared to Ramadan 2025, daily fasts are expected to be around 30 minutes shorter, a detail that will definitely be appreciated by first-time fasters and seasoned pros alike. Looking ahead to Eid Al Fitr, the Shawwal crescent is most likely to be sighted on March 19.

If confirmed, Eid would fall on Friday, March 20. That would make Ramadan a 29-day month and set up a three-day Eid holiday from Friday to Sunday, March 20 to 22, for those on a standard weekend schedule.

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