Ramadan 2026 Starts Today: Everything Non-Muslims Need to Know — Fasting, Greetings, Restaurant Etiquette

Not all Muslims started fasting on the same day this year.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine declared Wednesday, 18 February, as the first day of Ramadan.

But Turkey, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, and most of Europe said Thursday, 19 February. The reason comes down to how each country determines when the moon appears.

This one-day split happens regularly. But for the 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide observing Ramadan — and the non-Muslims working alongside them, doing business with them, or simply wanting to understand — the difference matters.

Your Muslim colleague in London might be fasting today. Your supplier in Jakarta waits until tomorrow.

Why Start Dates Differ

The split isn't an error. It's theology.

Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court relies on physical moon sightings. Witnesses scan the sky after sunset on the 29th day of Sha'ban, the month before Ramadan. Spot the crescent, and fasting begins the next morning. Miss it, and Sha'ban extends to 30 days.

Turkey and the European Council for Fatwa and Research use astronomical calculations. Their data showed the crescent was impossible to see on Tuesday evening — the moon sat too close to the sun for visibility. So, they declared Thursday.

Both methods are considered valid within Islamic jurisprudence. Many countries in Asia, Africa, and Oceania followed the calculation-based approach, according to Al Jazeera. The month ends with Eid al-Fitr, expected around 19 or 20 March, depending on the next moon sighting.

The Shortest Fasts in Years

Ramadan moves backwards through the calendar by roughly 10 to 11 days annually. This year, it lands in late winter for the Northern Hemisphere. That means shorter days. Shorter fasts.

Muslims in London will fast for around 12 hours on day one. In New York, about the same. In Riyadh, approximately 13 hours. Compare that to summer Ramadans, when fasting in northern cities stretches beyond 18 hours. For the nearly 90% of the world's population living in the Northern Hemisphere, this is the easiest Ramadan in recent memory.

The Southern Hemisphere flips the equation. Muslims in Sydney, Cape Town, and São Paulo face longer autumn days — around 13 to 14 hours of fasting, decreasing as the month progresses.

What Non-Muslims Should Know

Fasting means no food, no drink, no smoking, and no intimate relations from dawn to sunset. It's one of Islam's five pillars. But Ramadan is more than abstinence. The month centres on reflection, increased prayer, and charitable giving.

Two greetings work anywhere: 'Ramadan Mubarak' (blessed Ramadan) and 'Ramadan Kareem' (generous Ramadan). A simple acknowledgment from a non-Muslim colleague or friend goes further than most realise.

Workplace and Social Etiquette

Practical courtesies help. Don't schedule lunch meetings with fasting colleagues. Avoid offering food or drink during daylight hours. Skip the working lunch when half your team can't eat.

Energy levels dip late in the day. Morning meetings work better. Flexible scheduling, where possible, makes a difference.

In restaurants, patterns shift. Muslim-majority neighbourhoods see quiet afternoons and packed evenings as families gather for iftar, the sunset meal. Late-night spots stay open for suhoor, the pre-dawn meal before fasting resumes.

The Bigger Picture

Muslims believe Ramadan is when the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over 1,400 years ago. It's a time of discipline, community, and generosity.

Not all Muslims started fasting on the same day this year. But all 1.9 billion are marking the same month, and a little understanding from everyone else makes it easier.