Eid al-Adha 2026 LIVE: When will Dhul Hijjah start as Saudi court issues moonsighting call

The director of the Astronomical Observatory at Majmaah University has said there are currently no expected obstacles to prevent the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah crescent moon.

Abdullah Al Khudairi made the comments ahead of the official moon sighting observation expected to take place in Saudi Arabia on May 17.

Saudi Arabia is expected to announce the official Dhul Hijjah moon sighting on the evening of May 17.

The Saudi Supreme Court has asked Muslims across the Kingdom to look for the crescent moon after sunset, as its appearance will determine the start of Dhul Hijjah and the date of Eid al-Adha 2026.

Astronomers believe the crescent could be visible in parts of the Middle East on Sunday evening, with observatories including Sudair, Tumair and Majmaah expected to monitor the skies closely.

If the moon is officially sighted, Dhul Hijjah is expected to begin on May 18, with Day of Arafah likely falling on May 26 and Eid al-Adha beginning on May 27.

If the crescent is not seen, the current Islamic month will complete 30 days, meaning Eid could instead begin on May 28.

Majmaah University Astronomical Observatory (Image: Getty)

Dhul Hijjah is the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar and is considered one of the holiest periods in Islam.

The month includes the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, the Day of Arafah and Eid al-Adha - one of the biggest festivals in the Islamic calendar.

The start of Dhul Hijjah is determined by the sighting of a new crescent moon, which is why Muslims around the world closely follow official moon sighting announcements each year.

Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has called on Muslims across the Kingdom to look for the crescent moon on May 17, with astronomers predicting it could be visible after sunset.

If the moon is officially sighted, Dhul Hijjah is expected to begin on May 18, placing Day of Arafah on May 26 and Eid al-Adha on May 27.

Some Muslim communities follow Saudi Arabia’s announcement, while others rely on local moon sightings, meaning Eid dates can sometimes differ between countries.

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28 mins ago16:27 Alice Scarsi