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Global Muslim communities are beginning their spiritual preparations as astronomical calculations and religious authorities provide the first look at the expected dates for Ramadan 1447 AH. In Saudi Arabia, the UK, and the USA, the holy month is projected to begin on or around the evening of Tuesday, February 17, 2026, with the first day of fasting likely falling on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Because the Islamic calendar is strictly lunar, the exact commencement remains subject to the official sighting of the crescent moon by the High Judicial Court in Saudi Arabia and local moonsighting committees across Western nations.
The significance of this month is deeply rooted in the Quran, where Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala declares in Surah Al-Baqarah that the month of Ramadan is that in which the Quran was revealed as a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion. This divine decree establishes the month as the pinnacle of the Islamic year, urging believers who are present and healthy to observe the fast. In the United Kingdom and North America, where Muslim populations often look to both local sightings and the declarations of Mecca, the synchronization of the start date remains a focal point of community unity.
For many, the arrival of Ramadan is inseparable from the desire to perform Umrah. The Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam emphasized the extraordinary status of this pilgrimage when performed during the fast. According to a Sahih Bukhari narration, the Messenger of Allah stated that an Umrah performed in Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj with him in terms of reward. This profound Sunnah has made the holy month the most sought-after time for pilgrims to visit the Kaaba, seeking a spiritual experience that mirrors the reward of the major pilgrimage while fulfilling the lesser one.
Updated regulations from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for the 1447 AH season emphasize the importance of early planning. Authorities have confirmed that the final date for international pilgrims to enter Saudi Arabia for Umrah will be the 15th of Shawwal, which corresponds to approximately April 2, 2026. Furthermore, the ministry has streamlined the process through the Nusuk platform, requiring mandatory pre-booking for Umrah permits to manage the massive influx of worshippers expected during the final ten nights.
The spiritual peak of the month, Laylat al-Qadr or the Night of Power, is expected to fall on the evening of March 16, 2026. This night, described in the Quran as being better than a thousand months, draws millions to the Two Holy Mosques. To accommodate this, Saudi authorities have maintained the minimum age for solo travelers at 18, while ensuring that senior citizens can perform their rituals with improved digital services and high-speed transport via the Haramain High-Speed Railway.
As the countdown to February 2026 begins, believers in the UK and USA are encouraged to finalize their travel arrangements and visa applications well before the mid-March deadline for visa issuance. This period of devotion, which is expected to conclude with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr on or around March 20, 2026, remains a global testament to faith, discipline, and the pursuit of divine mercy as prescribed by the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
