Marrakech – The Crescent Sighting Committee at Qatar’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has announced that the crescent of Shawwal has not been sighted this evening.
Accordingly, Ramadan will complete 30 days, and Friday, March 20, will be the first day of Eid Al Fitr 2026/1447 AH in the country.
Qatar’s announcement aligns with earlier astronomical projections that had long pointed to March 20 as the most probable date for the start of Shawwal.
With Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE all confirming that the Shawwal crescent was not sighted on Wednesday evening, the Gulf’s three largest economies will observe Eid Al Fitr in unison on Friday, March 20.
The confirmation comes days after the Amiri Diwan outlined the official Eid holiday schedule for the public sector. Under the directive, ministries, government agencies, and public institutions will observe the break from Tuesday, March 17 through Monday, March 23, with employees set to resume work on Tuesday, March 24.
The week-long government break gives public sector employees one of the longest Eid holidays in the Gulf region, allowing ample time for travel, family gatherings, and participation in the country’s packed calendar of festivities.
Eid Al Fitr traditions in Qatar include wearing new clothes, attending communal prayer sessions at mosques or outdoor prayer grounds, and sharing festive meals with family and friends.
The morning feast typically features lamb, rice, harees, sweets, and nuts, with extended families of up to fifty gathering around the table. Qatari families traditionally leave their front doors open on Eid morning as a gesture of welcome, while children go door to door in their neighborhoods collecting cash gifts known as eidiyah.
Men perform the traditional ardah dance, women and girls take part in the muradah, and children sing collective folk songs. Across the country, venues such as Al Wakrah Old Souq, the Pearl, Katara Cultural Village, and the Doha Corniche host fireworks, live performances, heritage craft exhibitions, and family-friendly activities throughout the holiday.
