Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court is expected to declare Friday, March 20, 2026, as the first day of Eid al-Fitr, following astronomical calculations indicating the recent moon will not be visible before sunset on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The anticipated announcement comes as the Kingdom relies on both lunar sightings and scientific data to determine the start of the Islamic holiday.
The determination hinges on a key astronomical factor: the moon is predicted to set approximately 30 minutes before the sun on Wednesday evening, making a sighting of the crescent moon impossible. This calculation, according to experts, effectively mandates a 30-day Ramadan.
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Reports from the Umm Al-Qura Observatory and the International Astronomy Center confirm the moon will dip below the horizon before sunset on March 18, 2026. This astronomical impossibility is expected to be the basis for the Supreme Court’s final decision following the evening’s reports.
Pending the official announcement after the reports from moon-sighting committees are reviewed, all indications point to March 20, 2026, being the first day of Shawwal and the start of Eid al-Fitr. The possibility of sighting the crescent moon on Wednesday evening and thus celebrating Eid on Thursday, is considered extremely unlikely based on current calculations.
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As anticipation builds throughout the Kingdom, available data suggests the Eid holiday for both the public and private sectors will begin at the end of the workday on Wednesday. Students can expect an extended break stretching to the end of March, according to the Ministry of Education’s schedule.
All eyes are now on the Saudi Supreme Court’s statement, expected in the coming hours, which will officially conclude the debate and confirm the start of Eid al-Fitr.
