Eid 2026 Announcement: When UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar Will Confirm the Holiday

With Ramadan in its last few days, excitement is quickly growing in the Gulf in regard to the approaching festive holiday. Residents eagerly await the official Eid 2026 holiday announcement, which dictates the exact days off for family gatherings, travel, and celebrations. Although there are initial astronomical estimates that given a substantial estimate, the ultimate affirmation of this is strictly governed by the orthodox watching of the moon. This is where the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar will officially declare the termination of the holy month.

Tracking the Eid 2026 Moon Sighting

The Islamic calendar is lunar, making the Eid 2026 moon sighting the most crucial event for determining the festival’s official start. In 2008, the astronomers of the International Astronomical Center (IAC) suggest that Ramadan should be expected to take 30 days this year. GCC moon-sighting committees will hold so on the evening of March 18 or 19. The Shawwal crescent is said to have astronomical critically low visibility on March 18, so there is a high expectation that Eid Al Fitr will fall officially on Friday, March 20, 2026.

Expected Eid Al Fitr 2026 Dates GCC Holiday Break

Governments have already started to map out provisional public and privately sector holidays in order that families may plan with certainty.

UAE and Saudi Arabia Holiday Schedules

Through the Federal Authority of Government Human Resources, the UAE has officially announced its holiday in the public sector, which is between Thursday, March 19, to Sunday, March 22. In the meantime, the Ministry of Human Resources in Saudi Arabia declared a four-day holiday of the private sector beginning at the end of the work day on Wednesday, March 18.

Qatar’s Festive Preparations

Qatar typically aligns closely with its neighbors. The Qatar News Agency (QNA) is expected to broadcast the official state decree shortly after the religious committee concludes its observations, ensuring a synchronized and joyful holiday period across the entire Gulf region.

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