Ramadhan begins in some countries today

Published: 05:02 AM,Feb 18,2026 | EDITED : 01:02 PM,Feb 18,2026

Several countries welcomed the holy month of Ramadan on Wednesday, while others will start fasting on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia announced that the new moon of Ramadhan was sighted on Tuesday evening, and fasting will commence today.

Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Palestine, Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti, and some parts of Yemen also announced on Wednesday that it is the first day of Ramadan.

Ramadan will also be observed in Lebanon on Wednesday, while Egypt will observe the holy month of Ramadan on Thursday, as the new moon was not sighted on Tuesday evening, according to the country’s grand mufti.

Jordan, Syria, Indonesia, Pakistan, Iran, Tunisia, Algeria, and Malaysia also announced that the start of the holy month will be Thursday.

Türkiye, Oman, Singapore, and Australia will begin fasting in Ramadhan on Thursday after authorities confirmed the start of the holy month based on astronomical calculations.

Morocco and Mauritania will sight the moon of Ramadhan on Wednesday to determine the start of the fasting month.

Ramadhan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

While some countries rely on moon sightings, others increasingly use astronomical calculations to determine the start of the month, particularly when scientific data confirms the impossibility of visual observation.

Ramadhan, which is expected to begin in February, will also have the shortest fasting hours in the range between 12 and 13 hours in the Sultanate of Oman after 31 years.
The weather across the GCC is expected to be moderate at the start of the month, only to get warmer by mid-March.
In Muscat, the Iftar time is expected to be around 6:04 PM in February and around 6:17 PM towards the end of the holiday month.

Last year, it started on March 1, 2025, in Oman. Records show that Ramadhan previously began on February 12 in 1994 and on February 1 in 1995.

Working hours

For employees in the state administrative apparatus, the official workday is now designed around four distinct windows to stagger the flow of cars. Depending on the nature of their department, staff may start as early as 7 am and finish at 12 pm, or choose from other slots: 8 am to 1 pm, 9 am to 2 pm, or a later 10 am to 3 pm shift.
Many employees — particularly women — report improved work-life balance.
Earlier return times have allowed families to prepare for Iftar without the stress and fatigue of prolonged commutes.
The measure has also reduced exposure to road incidents during peak hours, improving overall commuter safety.

Remote work

Department heads also have the authority to grant remote work to those whose roles allow it. At least 50 percent of a department’s staff must be physically present at the office to ensure that government services are not affected. Meanwhile, the private sector maintains its own protections for Muslim workers, capping the workday at six hours or a total of 30 hours per week.

To further clear the path, the Royal Oman Police continues to play a vital role by restricting truck movements on major roads on Thursdays and Saturdays. By combining these logistical shifts with a bit of modern flexibility, the goal is to reduce the 'skirmishes' and minor accidents that happen when everyone is in a hurry, allowing the community to focus more on the spirit of the month and less on the brake lights in front of them.