A man observes the moon through a telescope to determine the beginning of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, next to the Dome of Rock shrine at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, Tuesday, February 17, 2026. MAHMOUD ILLEAN / AP
For Muslims in Saudi Arabia, the first day of Ramadan will fall on Wednesday, February 17, the kingdom's royal court announced. The holy month, during which hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world observe a fast from sunrise to sunset, traditionally begins with the sighting of the crescent moon.
Many Muslim-majority countries around the world follow Saudi Arabia in determining the start of Ramadan, which makes its announcement particularly important. "Wednesday, is the first day of the blessed month of #Ramadan," the official Saudi Press Agency posted on X Tuesday. Gulf neighbours Oman, Qatar and the UAE also made similar announcements.
Observing the Ramadan fast is one of the five pillars of Islam, requiring believers to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours. Observant Muslims are also encouraged to donate to the poor. Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia is home to Islam's two holiest sites.
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