After the Sultanate of Oman announced in an official statement that Thursday, February 19, 2026, will be the first day of the month of Ramadan 1447 AH, the Republic of Turkey also specified that the beginning of the holy month will coincide with Thursday, February 19.
According to the International Astronomy Center, the astronomical calculations conducted by the Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs indicated that the visibility of the crescent moon is impossible on Tuesday, February 17, from anywhere in the Arab and Islamic world, nor even from the two Americas.
For its part, Singapore also determined that the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan will be on Thursday, February 19. The International Astronomy Center clarified that the Islamic Affairs Council in Singapore relies on prior astronomical calculations to determine the possibility of sighting the crescent moon from inside the country, which confirmed that the crescent moon will be impossible to see on Tuesday due to the moon setting before the sun that day.
Thus, three countries have officially designated Thursday, February 19, as the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan this year: Singapore, Turkey, and the Sultanate of Oman.
As for Morocco, the beginning of Ramadan is determined annually based on the lunar crescent observation. In 2026, calculations indicate that the crescent moon will not be visible on the evening of Tuesday, February 17, making the announcement of the start of Ramadan on Wednesday, February 18, impossible. The official announcement regarding this remains the prerogative of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs.
