Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin on 8 February, subject to official moon-sighting confirmation, according to astronomical forecasts from the United Arab Emirates.
Ibrahim Al Jarwan, chairman Board of Directors of the Emirates Astronomical Society and a member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, said the holy month is projected to start on Monday, 8 February 2027, reports Gulf News.
The beginning of Jumada Al Awwal on 12 October is expected to mark the start of the final four lunar months before Ramadan.
According to Al Khaleej newspaper, Al Jarwan said the astronomical new moon would occur at around 7:50pm UAE time on Saturday, 10 October, after sunset.
The crescent could become visible to the naked eye on Sunday evening, 11 October, making Monday, 12 October, the expected first day of Jumada Al Awwal 1448 AH.
Based on astronomical projections, Ramadan could last 29 or 30 days. Eid Al Fitr is therefore expected to fall on 9 March, or 10 March 2027.
Differences in crescent visibility forecasts
Meanwhile, the Sharjah Space and Astronomy Hub, affiliated with the University of Sharjah, has issued a different assessment of the crescent’s visibility.
The centre said calculations indicate that the crescent marking the beginning of Jumada Al Awwal will not be visible to the naked eye or through conventional telescopes after sunset on Sunday, 11 October.
However, it may be possible to detect the crescent before sunset using advanced astrophotography techniques, the centre said.
According to the hub, countries that follow astronomical calculations or observations supported by such calculations are expected to begin Jumada Al Awwal on Monday, 12 October.
Countries that require the crescent to be sighted with the naked eye or through an optical telescope after sunset may begin the month on 13 October.
The hub said the moon would reach central conjunction, marking the astronomical new moon, at 7:50pm UAE time on Saturday, October 10. Topocentric conjunction, calculated specifically for Sharjah, would occur at 8:47pm the same evening.
How the Islamic lunar calendar works
Al Jarwan explained that the Islamic lunar calendar has a distinctive feature: its progression can be followed by observing the moon without specialised equipment or astronomical calculations.
The moon’s changing appearance allows people to track the stages of a lunar month, beginning with the first crescent and progressing through the first quarter and full moon. The moon then gradually wanes before disappearing, marking the transition towards a new lunar cycle.
These visible phases have traditionally provided a natural way to track the lunar months that form the basis of the Islamic calendar.
Although astronomical forecasts offer an indication of when Ramadan will begin, the exact date remains subject to the relevant authorities’ official moon-sighting confirmation.
