Ramadan was officially announced last night, with the holy month beginning today, Wednesday February 18, 2026 in the UAE
With Ramadan being confirmed, many are wondering when the next big date in the calendar is… Which is Eid Al Fitr.
Here’s what we know so far.
What is Eid Al Fitr?
Eid Al Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and celebrates the completion of a month of fasting. The name translates to “festival of breaking the fast”, and it falls on the first day of Shawwal, the month that follows Ramadan in the Islamic calendar.
It’s one of the most important celebrations of the year and usually brings one of the longest public holiday breaks in the UAE.
Also read: All the UAE public holidays in 2026 (and how to maximise your leave)
When will Eid Al Fitr fall in 2026?
Now that Ramadan has begun on February 18, there are two possible scenarios, as the Islamic month can last either 29 or 30 days.
- If Ramadan lasts 30 days, Eid is expected to begin on Friday March 20, with public holidays running from Friday to Sunday.
- If Ramadan lasts 29 days, Eid would likely begin on Thursday March 19, with official holidays running Thursday to Saturday.
In both cases, you can expect at least a four-day weekend, thanks to the UAE weekend falling on Saturday and Sunday.
As always, the exact dates will be confirmed closer to the time following the official moon sighting.
Can the dates change?
Unlike some other public holidays in the UAE, Eid dates cannot be shifted to create longer weekends. They are fixed according to the Islamic lunar calendar and confirmed by moon sighting.
For now, late March is looking very promising for a long weekend break.
We’ll update as soon as the official Eid Al Fitr holiday dates are confirmed.
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