The holy month of Ramadan 1447 AH will begin on Wednesday, 18 February 2026 in Sudan and South Sudan, as declared by Saudi Arabia on 17 February 2026.
Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court called for crescent moon sightings on the evening of 17 February (29 Shaʿbān 1447 AH), after which 18 February 2026 was officially declared as the first day of Ramadan (1 Ramadan 1447 AH). Like many countries in the region, Sudan and South Sudan are among those that traditionally follow Saudi Arabia in moon sightings to declare the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.
In Sudan, Ramadan 2026 fasting hours are expected to last approximately 13–14 hours per day, with Fajr (dawn), marking the beginning of the fast, around 5 am, and Maghrib (sunset), the time of iftar (fatoor), around 6 pm – 6:30 pm. Due to its location near the equator, Sudan experiences relatively moderate and balanced daylight hours compared to more northern regions.
Although South Sudan has a small Muslim population, Muslims there will experience some of the shortest and most balanced fasting hours globally. In cities such as Bor or Juba, fasting is likely to begin just before 6 am (Fajr) and end just after 6:00 pm (Maghrib). Overall, fasting hours in South Sudan are expected to last around 12–13 hours daily.
Countries where Ramadan will begin on 18 Febryary include Sudan, South Sudan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Palestine, Djoubti Morrocco, Tunisia, Algeria, the US, the UK and Canada.
Countries where Ramadan will begin on 19 February include Egypt, Oman, Turkiye, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Philippines, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Japan , Jordan, Australia and France.
Both Sudan and South Sudan are entering Ramadan amid political and economic hardship. Sudan is still suffering from a war that is nearing its third year, resulting in famine, the world’s largest displacement crisis, and a severe humanitarian emergency.
