Muscat: In the Sultanate of Oman, the holy month of Ramadhan will fall in February this year for the first time in nearly 31 years.
The Main Committee for Moon Sighting has announced that Wednesday, February 18, 2026, will mark the completion of the month of Shaaban 1447 AH. Accordingly, Thursday, February 19, 2026, will be the first day of the Holy Month of Ramadhan 1447 AH in Oman.
The committee stated that astronomical calculations confirmed the crescent moon of Ramadhan would set before sunset on Tuesday, corresponding to 29 Shaaban 1447 AH, making it impossible to sight the moon on that day across all governorates of the Sultanate. Based on these findings, Shaaban will complete 30 days, and the blessed month will commence on Thursday.
Ramadhan last began in February in Oman in the mid-1990s, with records indicating it started on February 12 in 1994 and on February 1 in 1995. In 2025, the holy month began on March 1 in the Sultanate.
Based on current astronomical projections, Ramadhan is expected to begin on February 8 in 2027.
Earlier astronomical assessments had indicated that most countries would attempt to observe the crescent moon on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. However, calculations showed that sighting the crescent on that day would not be possible from any part of the Arab and Islamic world, whether with the naked eye, telescopes or advanced astronomical imaging techniques.
In countries that require confirmed crescent sighting to determine the beginning of the Hijri month, Wednesday was expected to complete Shaaban, with Thursday, February 19, marking the first day of Ramadhan. Some countries applying different criteria for determining the start of the month may begin fasting a day earlier.
According to astronomical data analysed by specialised centres, these projections were based on precise observational standards used to assess crescent visibility.
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