The authorities in Saudi Arabia have officially confirmed the sighting of the crescent moon, signaling the start of Ramadan 1447 and setting Wednesday as the first day of fasting.
With the Hilal observed on Tuesday evening, Muslims in the Kingdom will begin fasting at dawn on Wednesday. Taraweeh prayers are scheduled to take place following the Isha prayer later tonight, marking the first evening of the holy month.
A post by @Muslim on X read, “BREAKING: Saudi Arabia announces the first day of fasting for Ramadan to begin on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
“Taraweeh will begin tonight on the first evening of the blessed month.
“It’s recommended to follow the fasting time designated by your local community and country.”
In addition to Saudi Arabia, Muslims in Nigeria, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, along with several other nations, will also commence fasting on Wednesday. The start of Ramadan ushers in a month devoted to prayer, reflection, charity and spiritual renewal.
However, the beginning of Ramadan will differ in some countries due to local moon-sighting results.
In Japan, Ramadan 2026 will start a day later, on Thursday, February 19, after the Hilal Vision Committee reported that the crescent moon was not sighted. Muslims there will observe their first fast on Thursday.
Similarly, Oman, Singapore and Turkey have all announced that Ramadan will begin on Thursday, February 19. Their decisions followed traditional lunar observation procedures after no confirmed sighting of the crescent.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, which consists of 12 months and spans 354 or 355 days. Because it follows the lunar cycle, its start date shifts each year on the Gregorian calendar.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory for healthy adult Muslims. Exemptions apply to young children, the sick, travelers, and women who are pregnant, nursing or menstruating.
The practice of sighting the crescent moon remains a long-established method for determining the start of Ramadan as well as the Islamic festivals of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
Throughout the month, many Muslim-majority countries adjust working hours and school schedules to allow for increased worship and family time.
More than 1.8 billion Muslims around the world are expected to observe the daily fast from sunrise to sunset during the sacred month.