Saudi Arabia has officially announced that Thursday, March 19, 2026, will mark the completion of Ramadan and that Friday, March 20, 2026, will be the first day of Eid al-Fitr. This announcement was made public by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), which noted that the Supreme Court in Saudi Arabia called upon Muslims in various regions to sight the crescent moon on the evening of Wednesday, the 29th of Ramadan to confirm whether Eid al-Fitr would fall on Thursday or Friday.

Similarly, Qatar's moon sighting committee under the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs confirmed that Thursday is the last day of Ramadan and that Friday will be the first day of Eid al-Fitr, as stated in their official statement after a meeting in the ministry's building. The synchronization between Saudi Arabia and Qatar on the dates reflects the close cultural and religious ties between the two nations, which often observe significant Islamic events together.

The article also references other countries like Turkey and Singapore, which do not rely on moon sighting but instead use astronomical calculations to determine the commencement of lunar months. Turkey, for instance, has already announced that Friday will also be Eid al-Fitr there, capitalizing on the potential visibility of the crescent moon. This highlights the different approaches undertaken by Muslim-majority countries regarding the lunar calendar and Eid celebrations, showcasing a variation in practices even within the same religious framework.