Maghrib Prayer Time Schedule for Riau Islands Province on 26 February 2026 Officially Released, Ministry of Religious Affairs Urges Use of Official References
The Directorate General of Islamic Community Guidance (Bimas) of the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs has officially released the imsakiyah schedule and prayer times for the Riau Islands Province, starting on Thursday, 26 February 2026, which coincides with 8 Ramadan 1447 Hijri.
The schedule applies to all regencies and cities in the Riau Islands Province, including Batam, Tanjungpinang, Karimun, Bintan, the Anambas Islands, Lingga, and Natuna, as well as the surrounding smaller islands.
According to official data from Bimas Islam of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, in the Batam area, the imsak time is recorded at 04.49 WIB (Western Indonesian Time) and the Subuh (dawn) prayer time is at 04.59 WIB. The time difference between regions in the Riau Islands Province ranges from a few minutes, depending on the geographical location of each region.
Officials from the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Riau Islands Province have advised the public to use this official schedule as the primary guide during Ramadan.
“We urge all Muslims in the Riau Islands to use the imsakiyah schedule released by Bimas Islam of the Ministry of Religious Affairs as the official reference. A time difference of a few minutes between regions is normal due to geographical coordinates,” said Arman, an official from the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Riau Islands Province, on Thursday (26/2).
He also emphasized the importance of caution when disseminating prayer schedule information on social media.
“Ensure that the source is clear and comes from the official channels of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. This is important to avoid errors in the imsak and iftar times,” he added.
According to him, the imsakiyah schedule not only helps Muslims determine the end time for sahur (pre-dawn meal) but also serves as a comprehensive guide for the five daily prayers, including Zuhur (noon), Asar (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset), and Isya (evening).
In the island regions such as Natuna and Anambas, which have dispersed areas and are partly located on the border, the accuracy of the schedule is very important. Many residents are active from early morning, including fishermen and port workers, so they need certainty regarding prayer times.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Riau Islands hopes that the momentum of Ramadan 1447 Hijri can be used to improve the quality of worship, strengthen ties, and reinforce the values of togetherness in the community. By referring to the official schedule, Muslims in the Riau Islands are expected to carry out their fasting and prayers in an orderly, timely, and devout manner. (H-2)