The UAE has officially called on residents to look to the skies as the country prepares for the start of Ramadan.
The announcement came from the UAE Council for Fatwa, which has urged people across Dubai and the other emirates to watch for the crescent moon of Ramadan on the evening of Tuesday, February 17.
In Islamic tradition, the sighting of the crescent moon marks the beginning of a new month in the Hijri calendar. Ramadan, the ninth and most sacred month of the Islamic year, officially begins only after the crescent is confirmed.
For residents in Dubai, this isn’t just a religious announcement — it’s a moment that signals a shift in daily life. Work routines change. Nights grow livelier. Iftar tables grow longer. Mosques fill up. And the city moves into a different rhythm.
The moon sighting is where it all begins.
Possible start dates for Ramadan this year
If the crescent moon is sighted on Tuesday evening, the first day of Ramadan will fall on Wednesday, February 18.
But there’s a strong chance that won’t happen.
Astronomers in the region have already indicated that it may be impossible to see the crescent moon on Tuesday. The reason is simple: there may not be enough time for the moon to move from the new moon phase into a visible crescent stage in the UAE’s skies.
If the crescent is not seen, Ramadan will begin on Thursday, February 19 instead.
This is part of the natural rhythm of the Islamic lunar calendar. Months are either 29 or 30 days long, depending entirely on moon visibility. Calculations can predict possibilities, but the final decision always comes down to physical sighting.
For residents, it means one thing: waiting for the official announcement before planning fasting schedules, work routines, and Ramadan activities.
How crescent sightings are verified across the Emirates?
Moon sighting in the UAE is not informal or symbolic. It’s organised, verified, and nationally coordinated.
On Tuesday evening, observations will begin after Maghrib prayer at 6.17pm. The Ramadan Crescent Moon Sighting Committee will gather reports from:
- Field observation teams
- Accredited observatories across the UAE
- Verified public reports
Residents who believe they have sighted the crescent moon can report it directly to the committee. These reports must include personal identification details and location information to ensure accuracy and verification.
This process blends faith with structure. Tradition with modern systems. It’s one of the ways the UAE preserves religious practice while maintaining national consistency.
Life in Dubai during Ramadan
In Dubai, Ramadan isn’t just a religious month — it’s a city-wide shift in pace and culture.
Cafés go quiet during the day and come alive after sunset. Roads feel calmer in the afternoons. Mosques prepare for long evening prayers. Families plan iftar invites weeks in advance. Grocery stores extend hours. Malls stay open late. The city changes its rhythm — but in a gentle, familiar way.
This year’s moon sighting call also follows a series of official Ramadan-related announcements, including:
- Adjusted working hours for public and private sector employees
- Distance learning plans for public schools
- Changes to government service timings
- Extended mosque schedules and Ramadan programming
These changes shape daily routines for residents across the emirate — from office workers in Business Bay to families in Deira, students in Al Qusais, and service staff across hospitality and retail sectors.
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The cultural importance of moon sighting
Even with modern astronomy, satellites, and forecasting, moon sighting remains central to Islamic practice. It’s not about technology — it’s about tradition, shared belief, and collective experience.
There’s something uniquely human about it.
Families looking at the sky together. Messages circulating on WhatsApp groups. Mosques are waiting for confirmation. Communities are holding their breath for the official word.
In Dubai, it’s a moment that unites people across cultures, nationalities, and backgrounds — Muslims and non-Muslims alike — because Ramadan shapes the entire city’s lifestyle.
From office schedules to restaurant menus, from school routines to night markets, everything adjusts around it.
What the coming days will bring?
If the crescent is not sighted on Tuesday evening, the UAE will officially announce Thursday, February 19, as the first day of Ramadan.
Until that confirmation is issued, both dates remain possible.
For now, preparations continue quietly across the city — homes getting ready for fasting hours, restaurants planning iftar menus, mosques preparing prayer schedules, and families adjusting routines.
Ramadan always arrives gently in Dubai. Not with noise, but with calm. Not with rush, but with rhythm.
And it all begins with a moon.
As the UAE calls for the Ramadan moon sighting, residents across Dubai and the Emirates wait for the official confirmation that will mark the start of the holy month.
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