Oman Officially Announces First Day of Ramadan 2026 After Crescent Moon Visibility Failure
Oman has early determined the date for the blessed month of Ramadan in 1447 AH, announcing that Wednesday, February 18, 2026, will be the completion of the month of Sha'ban, with Thursday, February 19, 2026, marking the beginning of Ramadan, following confirmation from specialists that the crescent moon cannot be seen astronomically.
The official authorities stated, in a statement reported by Omani media, that the moon will set on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, before or at sunset across the Sultanate, making the visibility of the crescent impossible that day, whether by the naked eye or using astronomical devices.
* Confirmed Astronomical Impossibility
For his part, Youssef Al-Rahbi, Director of the Astronomy Department at the Omani Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, confirmed that astronomical calculations have proven the impossibility of seeing the crescent not only in Oman but in the entire Islamic world when searching for its appearance on the evening of Tuesday.
He pointed out that the moon sets in Oman and the Arabian Peninsula at sunset or before it, and as we move eastward, the time difference increases, with the moon setting before the sun for a longer period, confirming the complete impossibility of visibility.
He added that in cases where it is certain that visibility is impossible, as is the case this month, it is sufficient to make the decision without the need to search for the crescent moon on the ground, due to scientific certainty of its non-appearance.
He emphasized that a clear distinction has been made between visibility by the naked eye and visibility using advanced devices, both of which are impossible under these circumstances.
* Visibility is a Basic Condition
The visibility of the crescent is a basic condition for the start of the lunar month in Oman, as is the case in many Arab and Islamic countries, making this announcement consistent with the legal frameworks adopted in the country.
* Previous Predictions and Differences in Estimates
Saudi weather and climate researcher Abdulaziz Al-Hussaini had predicted that the start of Ramadan would be on Wednesday, February 18, which is the same estimate announced by Saudi weather expert Khaled Al-Zaqaq, before Oman officially confirmed that Thursday, February 19, is the first day of the holy month for them.
* Notable Astronomical Event on the Same Day
February 17, 2026, will also witness an annular solar eclipse observed near the Antarctic continent, without being visible in Saudi Arabia or the Arab world, in a notable astronomical coincidence with the date of the crescent moon search.
With this announcement, Oman becomes one of the first countries to determine the start date of Ramadan this year, based on precise astronomical data confirming the impossibility of visibility decisively.
