The crescent moon will be impossible to sight on March 18 because the moon sets before the sun and the conjunction occurs after sunset, the IAC said.
The UAE-based International Astronomy Centre has said that sighting the Eid crescent on March 18 will be impossible, indicating that March 20 is likely to be the first day of Eid Al Fitr in the UAE and several other countries.
The crescent sighting on March 18 is “impossible” because the moon will set before the sun and the conjunction will occur after sunset, the IAC said, indicating that the month of Ramadan will complete 30 days.
For countries that will search for the crescent on March 19, visibility conditions vary by region. The crescent will not be visible from the eastern part of the world, while it may be seen with difficulty using telescopes in western Asia, central and northern Africa. It could be extremely difficult to spot with the naked eye in western Europe and western Africa, but relatively easy to see with the naked eye across much of North America.
The UAE-based International Astronomical Centre said that most countries observing the moon on March 19 are expected to declare Friday, March 20, as the first day of Eid al-Fitr.
However, because the crescent will be difficult to observe across large parts of the Islamic world, some countries may not confirm the sighting on Thursday, which could result in Saturday, March 21, being declared as Eid for them.
Key figures behind the crescent visibility
According to the International Astronomical Centre, the lowest recorded values at which a crescent has been visible to the naked eye are:
- Crescent persistence: 29 minutes — the time the crescent remains visible above the horizon.
- Crescent age: 15 hours and 33 minutes.
- Angular distance from the sun: 7.6 degrees.
Astronomers noted that exceeding any one of these values alone does not guarantee visibility, as the factors are interconnected and must be assessed together.
Eid Al Fitr holidays in the UAE
The UAE has already announced the holiday schedule for Eid al-Fitr for both public and private sectors.
According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, private-sector employees will have holidays from Thursday, March 19, to Saturday, March 21. If the holy month of Ramadan completes 30 days, the break will be extended to Sunday, March 22, which is also part of the UAE weekend.
For federal government entities, the holiday will run from Thursday, March 19, until Sunday, March 22, 2026, with official work resuming on Monday, March 23.
