The UAE Council for Fatwa said the Ramadan Crescent Moonsighting Committee will gather on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 6pm at the historic Qasr Al Hosn site in Abu Dhabi to determine the start of the holy month.
The meeting will be led by Sheikh Abdullah bin Sheikh Al Mahfouz bin Bayyah, Chairman of the UAE Council for Fatwa, with Dr Omar Habtoor Al Darei, Vice-Chairman of the Council, also expected to attend.
The Council said the committee’s work is part of its responsibility to verify lunar months, highlighting its role in maintaining a unified official reference for moon sighting across the UAE and supporting an institutional process in announcing the start of lunar months.
According to the Council, discussions will begin after the Maghrib prayer, when reports from field observers and results from accredited observatories nationwide will be reviewed. The committee will also assess testimonies submitted from various parts of the country, following approved religious and procedural guidelines.
Earlier, the Council urged the public to participate by sighting the crescent on Tuesday evening and submitting observations through its designated online platform, describing the effort as a way to revive the prophetic tradition of moon sighting and encourage community involvement.
It said the official confirmation of Ramadan’s start will be released through authorised channels after the committee completes its deliberations.
