Eid festivities in ME shadowed by ongoing war in Iran and Lebanon

Eid Al-Fitr is being celebrated today, Friday, March 20, 2026, across various Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain. This celebration follows the confirmation that the Shawwal crescent moon was not sighted, leading to the conclusion of Ramadan with the completion of 30 fasting days.

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf nations like Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain announced that the crescent moon was not sighted on the evening of March 18, 2026. Hence, these countries are celebrating Eid today, with March 19 being the last day of Ramadan.

In Saudi Arabia, the Royal Court confirmed the absence of a moon sighting after consultations with moon-sighting committees across the country. In UAE, the Emirati authorities confirmed the dates, ensuring public sector employees are enjoying extended holidays from March 19 to March 22, resuming work on March 23.

Meanwhile, as the moon heralds the arrival of Eid al-Fitr across the Middle East, the traditional atmosphere of celebration has been starkly eclipsed by the devastating toll of the ongoing US-Israeli attacks on Iran and Lebanon.

In Beirut and southern Lebanon, where displacement has now surpassed one million people, families are marking the holiday in overcrowded shelters and schools rather than their homes, with many opting for “intimate celebrations” or forgoing festivities entirely due to soaring food prices and the constant threat of airstrikes.

Similarly, in Iran, the holiday arrives under a heavy cloud of mourning following high-profile decapitation strikes in Tehran and significant civilian casualties, forcing a shift from public communal prayers to private remembrance.

Amidst heightening regional instability and a deepening humanitarian crisis, the typical joy of the “Festival of Breaking the Fast” has been replaced by a somber focus on survival and the search for safety.