The Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology (SAASST) at the University of Sharjah has issued a detailed forecast for sighting the Ramadan crescent moon for Hijri year 1447 AH, based on precise astronomical calculations.

According to SAASST specialists, the central conjunction, when the moon aligns with the sun, will occur on Tuesday, February 17, at 4:01pm (UAE time). For Sharjah, the surface conjunction will take place later at 5:52pm (UAE time).

At sunset on Tuesday evening, the moon’s age based on central conjunction will be just two hours and 14 minutes, while the moon will set seconds before the sun fully disappears. Based on surface calculations for Sharjah, the moon’s age would be only 22 minutes, making crescent visibility impossible.

Crescent sighting ruled out on Tuesday

SAASST confirmed that, under these conditions, sighting the Ramadan crescent on Tuesday evening will be impossible, whether by naked eye or advanced telescopes. This applies not only to Sharjah and the UAE, but to most of the Islamic world, the academy said.

Visibility expected on Wednesday evening

Conditions improve significantly on Wednesday evening, February 18. By then, the moon’s age will exceed 26 hours based on central conjunction calculations, with an elevation of nearly 12 degrees and 21 arcminutes, considered ideal for naked-eye visibility if weather conditions are clear.

For Sharjah specifically, surface conjunction calculations place the moon’s age at 24 hours and 23 minutes, with an elevation of approximately 12.5 degrees, further supporting visibility.

It could be Thursday in some countries

Based on these findings, SAASST predicts that Ramadan will most likely begin on Thursday, February 19, in countries that rely on traditional visual moon sighting.

However, the academy noted that some Islamic countries could declare the start of Ramadan on Wednesday, February 18, as they rely on astronomical calculations rather than confirmed visual sighting.

Week-by-week fasting times in the UAE

The first fast of Ramadan 2026 will last approximately 12 hours and 46 minutes, around 30 minutes shorter than the first day of Ramadan 2025, when fasting extended to 13 hours and 16 minutes.

Week 1
Fasting durations remain just under 13 hours, making the opening days among the shortest of the month.

• Ramadan 1: Fajr 5.33am, Maghrib 6.19pm

Week 2
Fasting hours cross the 13-hour mark as sunset timings move later.

• Ramadan 12: Fajr 5.24am, Maghrib 6.25pm

Week 3
At the halfway point on Ramadan 15, fasting reaches 13 hours and 5 minutes.

• Ramadan 15: Fajr 5.21am, Maghrib 6.26pm

Final week
The longest fasts fall toward the end of the month, peaking at around 13 hours and 27 minutes—still shorter than the nearly 14-hour fasts recorded in 2025.

• Last fast: Fajr 5.06am, Maghrib 6.33pm