With Ramadan fast approaching, there is only one question on everyone’s minds and search engine bars: “When is the Holy Month beginning in my country?”
People of Oman, however, are no longer wondering, as the Main Committee for Moon Sighting, under the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs (MERA), has revealed that Ramadan in Oman will commence on Thursday, February 19.
The Sultanate is the first nation to announce a definitive start date for the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
Speculations about the beginning of the month have been rife since February started, with the most probable date being Wednesday, February 18.
Ramadan in Oman 2026
The sultanate, along with many other Islamic countries, tends to more or less start its Ramadan celebrations with Saudi Arabia. However, the Kingdom has not yet announced a concrete start date. Since the Islamic calendar, much like the Chinese one, is a lunar calendar, predicting an exact date is a matter of intense astronomical calculations.
Saudi Arabia often calls on residents and citizens alike to head out the night before Ramadan in an effort to sight the rising crescent. That order has not been issued yet, either.
How Ramadan in Oman was confirmed
The moon sighting committee’s decision was based on astronomical calculations that showed that the new moon would not be sighted on Tuesday, February 17. As such, the Islamic month of Sha’ban will go on for 30 days and end on Wednesday, February 18. This means that Ramadan in Oman would begin on Thursday, February 19.
Other GCC nations
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has its own committee of moon sighting scholars who are also predicting Thursday, February 19. UAE could also declare the same beginning date as Oman if the crescent moon is not sighted on Tuesday, February 17, or Wednesday, February 18.
Why does the Ramadan date fluctuate worldwide
The date on which Ramadan in Oman begins is not necessarily the date on which the month may commence in other parts of the world. This is due to the lunar nature of the Islamic calendar. What phase of the moon is being witnessed by a country is dependent on a number of astronomical and geographical factors, including orbital position, sunlight reflection, and orbital motion.
Ramadan in Saudi 2026
While the Saudi Astronomical Society has not announced definitive dates, people have already started to prepare for the arrival of the Holy Month. Malls are decked out with Ramadan collections, and the first Ramadan market of the season has been announced: the Wrth Ramadan Market.
Thursday, February 19. Across Oman, visitoman.com.
