Ramadan 2027: When It Starts, When It Ends, and How to Prepare

Key dates for Ramadan 2027 (1448 AH)

All dates below are expected and subject to moon sighting. They assume the most commonly cited scenario: crescent sighting on the evening of 6 or 7 February 2027, with the first fast on Monday, 8 February.

Why the date can differ by a day

Ramadan begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon, and different countries and organisations verify that sighting in different ways. Saudi Arabia's Umm al-Qura calendar largely follows pre-calculated astronomical criteria. The Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) also uses astronomical calculation, coordinating a shared start date across many North American mosques. UK sighting bodies often follow local or regional moon-sighting committees, which can differ from Gulf announcements by a day. Indonesia's Kemenag holds an isbat (confirmation) session on the 29th of Sha'ban, combining hilal observation reports with calculation, and announces the result the same evening.

None of these methods is wrong — they reflect genuine, longstanding differences in how scholars interpret the command to sight the moon before beginning the fasting month. A one-day gap between neighbouring countries — or even between mosques in the same city — has happened in most recent years and is expected to happen again in 2027.

Fasting hours in February 2027

Because Ramadan 2027 falls in the northern-hemisphere winter, fasts will be on the shorter side for most of the Muslim world. In early February, expect roughly 10.5–11 hours between Fajr and Maghrib in Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur, 11–11.5 hours in Karachi, Delhi, and Dubai, 11–12 hours in New York and Toronto, and 10–11 hours in London. These are among the shortest fasting days Ramadan will produce for years, since the month falls in winter rather than the long summer days that make northern-hemisphere fasts especially demanding. Hours lengthen gradually through the month as the fast moves toward March and the days grow longer, so the last ten nights will feel noticeably longer than the first.

For exact suhoor and iftar times for your city, use the Ramadan calendar tool, or check prayer times for your location as the month approaches.

How to prepare in the months before

With Ramadan 2027 still months away, there is time to prepare properly rather than scramble in late January. Start by making up any missed fasts (qada) from previous years before the new Ramadan arrives. Settle outstanding debts and calculate your zakat obligations early rather than in the last week of the month. Consider starting a Ramadan journal now, so the habit of reflective writing is already established before the month begins. Build the daily habit of evening muhasaba in the weeks before Ramadan, so it is second nature once the fasting starts. Learn a dua for forgiveness to carry into the month, and read about the meaning of Ramadan to ground the practical preparation in why the month matters.

Ramadan 2027 around the world

In the Middle East, most Gulf states are expected to follow the Umm al-Qura calendar or their own sighting committees, typically announcing the start within a day of Saudi Arabia. In South Asia, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh each convene their own moon-sighting committees, which sometimes announce a day later than the Gulf due to local visibility conditions. In Southeast Asia, Indonesia's jadwal sholat and Kemenag's isbat process, alongside Malaysia's own rukyah sightings, set the regional start, which can diverge slightly from South Asian and Gulf dates. In the UK and Europe, most mosques follow either Saudi announcements or local sighting groups, so communities in the same city sometimes begin a day apart. In North America, FCNA's calculated date is widely followed, giving many mosques a single, pre-announced start date well before the month begins.

Frequently asked questions