Overview
- The UAE moon‑sighting committee meets on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. in Abu Dhabi, with Saudi authorities also taking testimonies that evening before announcing the start date.
- Crescent Moon Watch and other astronomers say the moon will be too young to see on Feb. 17 in many locations, pointing to Thursday, Feb. 19 for the first day of fasting in most countries.
- Calculation‑based bodies in North America, including FCNA and ISNA, have set Wednesday, Feb. 18 as the start, while the ECFR, Turkey, Singapore and Australia have announced Thursday, Feb. 19.
- Officials in India and Pakistan expect a Feb. 19 start pending local confirmation, reflecting differing national practices that can produce split start dates.
- Islamabad’s district administration now requires registration and approval for all street iftar arrangements citing security, and the International Astronomical Centre warns against telescope or binocular use near the sun during the Feb. 17 sighting window.