Ramadan is the ninth month of the Hijri calendar, following Shaban. The Umm al-Qura calendar sets its start in advance by astronomical calculation, while the official start is announced after moon sighting on the evening of 29 Shaban. The countdown uses the calendar date for planning; the announcement may come a day earlier or later.
Ramadan comes earlier every year
A Hijri year is about 11 days shorter than a Gregorian year, so each Ramadan starts earlier than the last. On the Umm al-Qura calendar:
Year
Ramadan starts
Days
1447 AH
Wednesday 18 February 2026
30
1448 AH
Monday 8 February 2027
29
1449 AH
Friday 28 January 2028
29
1450 AH
Tuesday 16 January 2029
29
At this pace Ramadan falls in winter during these years, moves back through autumn and summer, and returns to the same season after about 33 years. The length of every Ramadan is listed in Ramadan and Eid dates.
How the countdown works
Find the first day of the next Ramadan on the Umm al-Qura calendar.
Count the time left until midnight at the start of that day, Riyadh time.
Show whole days, then hours, minutes and seconds, updated every second.
When the first day of Ramadan arrives, the countdown moves on to the following year automatically.
On the Umm al-Qura calendar, Ramadan 1448 AH begins on Monday, 8 February 2027 (1 Ramadan 1448 AH). The official start is announced after moon sighting and can differ from the calendar by a day.
How many days are left until Ramadan?
The exact figure is shown in the countdown at the top of the page in days, hours, minutes and seconds, counted to midnight at the start of the first day of Ramadan, Riyadh time.
Why does Ramadan move every year?
A Hijri year has 354 or 355 days, about 11 days shorter than a Gregorian year, so Ramadan arrives 10 or 11 days earlier each year.
How many days does Ramadan have?
29 or 30. Its actual length is settled by the sighting of the Shawwal crescent; the Ramadan and Eid dates page lists the Umm al-Qura length for every year.