Ramadan Begins

Ramadan Begins marks the opening of the ninth month of the Hijri calendar and one of the defining seasons of Muslim life. Many Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, while prayer, Qur’an recitation, charitable giving and reflection take on special emphasis. In Saudi Arabia, where Makkah and Madinah receive worshippers from around the world, the month has an especially visible religious and social rhythm.

Daily schedules shift around the fast. Iftar at sunset brings families and communities together, and the period after evening prayer can be notably lively. Saudi labour and service hours often change during Ramadan, but the beginning of the month is not itself one of the separate statutory paid holidays. The later Eid al-Fitr break marks Ramadan’s completion. As the Hijri calendar is lunar, the start shown here is a planning estimate and should be checked against the annual official confirmation.

For 1447 AH, the Umm al-Qura planning calendar places the first day of Ramadan on Wednesday, February 18, 2026; the competent Saudi announcement remains decisive. MHRSD rules reduce Muslim working hours during Ramadan under the applicable labour framework, while SAMA sets customer-facing bank hours at 10:00–16:00 and flexible six-hour windows for remittance and payment providers. These shortened schedules are not a month-long public holiday. Pilgrimage services, hospitals, transport, retail and hospitality operate under sector-specific rosters that visitors should check directly.