Ramadan moon sighted in these countries today

Muslims around the world are preparing to welcome Ramadan 1447 AH, as several countries — including United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar — have officially announced that the holy month will begin on Wednesday, February 18, following verified sightings of the Ramadan crescent moon.

Authorities in the UAE confirmed the start of Ramadan after traditional moon-sighting procedures were conducted and verified by religious and astronomical committees. Residents across the country are now preparing to observe a month dedicated to fasting, prayer, and spiritual reflection.

Similarly, Saudi Arabia has declared that Ramadan will commence on February 18 after religious authorities confirmed the crescent sighting through established observation methods, ensuring the unified start of the fasting month across the Kingdom.

Qatar also announced Wednesday, February 18, as the first day of Ramadan following local moon sightings and verification by its religious and astronomical committees, with communities gearing up for a month of worship and charitable acts.

Meanwhile, countries including Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, and Palestine have also confirmed that Ramadan will begin on the same date after verified crescent moon sightings.

However, several countries across parts of Asia and the MENA region have announced that Ramadan will begin on Thursday, February 19, highlighting how regional moon sightings and local observation practices can lead to variations in the start of the holy month due to differences in lunar visibility.