Fasting hours during Ramadan 2026 in the UAE are set to be shorter than in recent years, as the holy month continues to move earlier in the Gregorian calendar. Ramadan is expected to begin around February 18 or 19, subject to official moon sighting by the UAE’s Moon Sighting Committee.
Because the Islamic Hijri calendar is lunar, Ramadan starts 10 to 12 days earlier each year. This shift directly affects fasting durations, with cooler weather and shorter daylight hours reducing the time between Fajr and Maghrib.
The first day of fasting is expected to last about 12 hours and 46 minutes, nearly 30 minutes shorter than the opening fast of Ramadan 2025. During the first week, fasting hours remain just under 13 hours.
By the second and third weeks, fasting durations gradually exceed 13 hours as sunrise occurs earlier and sunset moves later. The longest fasts are expected in the final week, reaching around 13 hours and 27 minutes.
Overall, Ramadan 2026 will offer comparatively shorter and more manageable fasting hours for worshippers across the UAE.
