When is Eid holiday — 19 or 20 March? India, Saudi Arabia, UAE likely to celebrate Eid ul-Fitr 2026 after 29th Ramadan

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Eid celebrations are contingent upon moon sighting with celebrations likely on 19 or 20 March. Saudi Arabia announced a four-day holiday for Eid ul-Fitr starting from18 March. Check what International Astronomical Center predicts.

India, Saudi Arabia, UAE and other countries will most likely celebrate Eid ul-Fitr 2026 after 29th Ramadan.
India, Saudi Arabia, UAE and other countries will most likely celebrate Eid ul-Fitr 2026 after 29th Ramadan.

One of the most auspicious and widely celebrated Muslim festival — Eid— is just around the corner. With preparations for "Eid-ul-Fitr” in full swing, many are concerned about the exact festival date. Eid ul-Fitr, the main and significant Muslim festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervour across the globe on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar

Muslims around the world celebrate this significant festival with grandeur and enthusiasm after offering morning prayers. Many a times confusion around Eid date arises as it is often celebrated on different days around the world due to time difference. To clear the confusion around Eid celebration dates, UAE's Al Khatim Astronomical Observatory released 2 images describing the date of visibility of Shawwal Crescent, which will determine the day of Eid celebrations and the end of Ramadan 1447 AH — the ninth month of Islamic calendar.

What did International Astronomical Center predict?

According to the International Astronomical Center, the crescent moon which marks the last day of Ramadan will be sighted on 18 March — corresponding to the twenty-ninth day of Ramadan — in countries that began fasting from 18 February. In other countries where fasting commenced on 19 February, including India, Eid will be celebrated on 20 March, Saturday, as crescent moon will be sighted on 19 March.

Eid ul-Fitr, also called the “festival of breaking the fast,” marks the conclusion of the holiest month in Islam — Ramadan. This year Ramadan, commenced in UAE and Saudi Arabia on 18 February, Wednesday, following the sighting of the crescent moon on 17 February, Tuesday. Moon-sighting committee's decision will determine the date of Eid festival after the Shawwal crescent is sighted.

Saudi Arabia declares four days holiday for Eid ul-Fitr

Saudi Arabia declared four days holiday for Eid ul-Fitr for the employees of the private sector and the non-profit sector, commencing on 18 March which corresponds to 29th Ramadan. This implies that Eid will be celebrated on 19 March in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, contingent upon the citing of the moon.

The notice released on Thursday stated, “The holiday on account of Jumat-ul-Vida shall now be observed on 13th of March, 2026 (Friday) instead of 20th of March, 2026 (Friday), in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.”

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