The UAE Council for Fatwa has announced that the Ramadan Crescent Moonsighting Committee will convene on Tuesday, 17 February 2026 at 6pm at Qasr Al Hosn in Abu Dhabi to assess the sighting of the Ramadan crescent and determine the start of the holy month.
The meeting will be chaired by Sheikh Abdullah bin Sheikh Al Mahfouz bin Bayyah, Chairman of the Council for Fatwa, alongside Vice-Chairman Dr Omar Habtoor Al Darei, reflecting the committee’s formal authority in overseeing and validating the official moon-sighting process in the UAE.
Following the Maghrib prayer, the committee will review reports from accredited observatories and verified public submissions, ensuring that all observations are examined in line with established Sharia principles and procedural standards.
The Council has encouraged residents to participate in sighting the crescent on Tuesday evening and to submit confirmed observations through its designated online platform, reinforcing the role of community engagement in the lunar calendar process.
Upon completion of its review, the committee will issue an official announcement confirming the commencement date of Ramadan through authorised national communication channels.
