Several Arab Nations, Including Saudi Arabia and Palestine, Begin Ramadan Fasting Today
Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court announced on Tuesday evening that the crescent moon marking the start of Ramadan had been sighted in the Kingdom, confirming that the holy month would commence on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.
The announcement followed reports from official crescent moon observation committees across the Kingdom, in accordance with Islamic tradition.
With this confirmation, Muslims throughout Saudi Arabia began fasting at dawn on Wednesday, marking the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar with prayer, reflection and charitable works.
Beyond Saudi Arabia, a number of other Arab nations — including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Yemen, Kuwait, Lebanon, Iraq and Palestine — also announced that the beginning of Ramadan 1447 Hijriah would fall on Wednesday, 18 February 2026. The exception was Oman, which commenced Ramadan on Thursday, 19 February.
The Sultanate of Oman officially confirmed that Thursday, 19 February, would mark the start of the holy month of Ramadan. The announcement was made after the crescent moon was not sighted, following the country’s traditional moon observation process.
Meanwhile, Indonesia — the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation — officially confirmed through an isbat session convened by the Ministry of Religious Affairs that the start of Ramadan 1447 Hijriah would fall on Thursday, 19 February 2026. Other ASEAN nations, including Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, also set Thursday as the first day of Ramadan.
The decision was taken after evaluating the results of rukyatul hilal, or visual observation of the moon, conducted at dozens of observation points across the country, alongside hisab, or astronomical calculations.
The isbat session brought together representatives from major Islamic organisations, religious scholars, astronomers and government officials. The ministry’s announcement serves as the official national reference for the commencement of fasting in Indonesia.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Hijriah calendar and the holiest month for Muslims. During this month, Muslims observe fasting from dawn until sunset as an act of devotion to Allah SWT. The Ramadan fast is one of the five pillars of Islam.
Beyond fasting, Ramadan is also filled with various forms of worship including tarawih prayers, reading the Quran, increased charitable giving, and deeper spiritual reflection. Muslims believe that it was during this month that the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad SAW through the event of Lailatul Qadar, the Night of Power, which is considered greater than a thousand months.