Saudi Arabia has announced that the Shawwal moon was not sighted, confirming that Eid al-Fitr will be observed on Friday, March 20, 2026, after 30 days of Ramadan.
Officials said the crescent was not visible anywhere in the Kingdom, leading to the completion of the holy month. In Pakistan, Eid ul Fitr 2026 is expected to fall on March 21 after a 30-day Ramadan, with experts noting that the chances of sighting the Shawwal moon on the evening of March 19 are low.
The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) stated that the new moon of Shawwal 1447 AH is predicted to appear on March 19, 2026, at 06:23 PST.
At sunset on March 19, the moon will be about 12 hours and 41 minutes old, with an estimated 28-minute gap between sunset and moonset along Pakistan’s coastal areas.
Read Also: Islamabad declares major parks family only for Eid ul Fitr holidays
Considering these factors, SUPARCO said the likelihood of seeing the crescent on March 19 is low, making March 21 the expected first day of Eid. The final decision in Pakistan, however, will be made by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee based on actual moon sighting.
