As the sun sets on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, millions of Muslims across the globe will gather with family and friends to break their fasts, marking another day in the sacred month of Ramadan. The rhythms of this holy period, dictated by lunar cycles and local prayer times, shape daily life from Dubai to Karachi, Mumbai to Lahore, and beyond, weaving a tapestry of faith, discipline, and community that stretches across continents.
This year, Ramadan began on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, for Muslims in the United Arab Emirates, a date determined by the sighting of the crescent moon—a tradition that causes the holy month to shift by about ten days each year, according to GulfNews.com. As a result, fasting hours change annually, with 2026 bringing relatively shorter days compared to the long, hot summer fasts of previous years. At the start of Ramadan, the call to Fajr prayer in Dubai was at 5:34 AM, while Maghrib, the time to break the fast, arrived at 6:18 PM, resulting in approximately 13 hours of fasting. As the month progresses, the fasting window gradually increases by a few minutes each day.
On February 25, 2026, the eighth day of Ramadan, Muslims in Dubai will begin their fast just before Fajr at 5:28 AM, and break it at Maghrib, precisely at 6:22 PM. In Abu Dhabi, just a short drive away, Maghrib will be called at 6:26 PM. These precise timings are more than ritual—they are a deeply felt part of the daily rhythm, with the call to prayer echoing across cities, guiding worshippers through the cycle of dawn-to-dusk abstention. As Fact Magazine notes, fasting during Ramadan means abstaining not only from food and drink, but also from negative thoughts and actions, from the first light of Fajr until the moment Maghrib prayer is announced.
Across the Arabian Sea, in Karachi, the seventh fast of Ramadan falls on the same day. Here, the community relies on official sehri (pre-dawn meal) and iftar (fast-breaking meal) timings, which can differ slightly depending on religious tradition. For followers of the Hanafi school, sehri ends at 5:41 AM and iftar is at 6:33 PM, totaling 12 hours and 50 minutes of fasting. For those following Jafria fiqh, sehri ends at 5:31 AM and iftar is at 6:43 PM, extending the fast to 13 hours and 10 minutes. Filmogaz.com advises a one-minute preventive adjustment—ending sehri a minute earlier and breaking the fast a minute later—to ensure observance is not inadvertently compromised.
In Lahore, the eighth fast will be observed on Thursday, February 26, 2026, with Hanafi sehri at 5:12 AM and iftar at 6:00 PM (12 hours and 48 minutes of fasting), and Jafria sehri at 5:02 AM with iftar at 6:10 PM (13 hours and 58 minutes). As is common across the region, local mosques and verified Ramadan calendars help residents keep track of these shifting times, which can vary even within the same city.
India, with its vast geography and diverse climates, sees even greater variation in fasting hours and iftar times. On February 25, 2026, Muslims in Kolkata will break their fast at 5:39 PM, one of the earliest in the country due to its eastern location. In Lucknow, iftar is at 6:06 PM; in Delhi, at 6:19 PM; Hyderabad, 6:22 PM; Chennai, 6:18 PM; Srinagar, 6:24 PM; Bengaluru, 6:29 PM; and Mumbai, being further west, at 6:43 PM. As ABP Live and other local sources point out, these differences are a reminder of how the movement of the sun and the lunar calendar shape the experience of Ramadan, even within a single nation.
The ritual of iftar itself is as meaningful as the hours of abstention that precede it. Traditionally, the fast is broken with dates and water—simple, grounding foods—before a larger meal is shared with family or the wider community. The moment is not just about physical nourishment but also about gratitude, togetherness, and reflection. As described in Indian media, the day’s rhythm is marked by pre-dawn quiet, slower workdays, and a mounting anticipation as sunset nears and the call to Maghrib prayer draws closer.
Ramadan’s significance goes far beyond the mechanics of fasting. It is a time for spiritual renewal, discipline, and compassion. The holy month is traditionally divided into three Ashras, or ten-day periods: Rahmat (Mercy), Barkat (Blessings), and Maghfirat (Forgiveness). The Quran’s 25th Para, Surah Ash-Shura (42:43), underscores the importance of patience and forgiveness: “And whoever is patient and forgives, indeed, that is of the matters requiring determination.” Observers are encouraged to cultivate sincerity, self-restraint, and honesty, qualities believed to bring Allah’s mercy and blessings. As ABP Live highlights, these virtues are at the heart of Ramadan, shaping the identity of the fasting believer, or roza-daar.
Work and daily life are also transformed during Ramadan, especially in countries like the UAE. The government has declared reduced working hours for both the public and private sectors. Private sector employees, regardless of faith, see their workdays shortened by two hours, while public sector staff work from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM Monday through Thursday, and from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Fridays, unless operational requirements dictate otherwise. This adjustment is intended to support the physical and spiritual demands of fasting, allowing more time for prayer, rest, and family.
The Islamic Hijri calendar, based on lunar cycles, means that Ramadan can last 29 or 30 days, and that its timing moves earlier by about 11 days each year. This shifting schedule means that, over the decades, Ramadan will fall in every season, with fasting hours ranging from the long, hot days of summer to the shorter, cooler days of winter. In 2026, observers in Dubai are experiencing relatively moderate fasting hours, but as the years progress, the challenge and experience will change with the calendar.
Throughout the holy month, the five daily prayers—Fajr, Duhur, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha—take on heightened significance. The call to prayer, broadcast from mosques across cities, marks the passage of time and the structure of each day. During Ramadan, these calls are more than reminders; they are signals for the community to come together, to reflect, and to renew their spiritual commitments.
Whether in the bustling streets of Karachi, the coastal neighborhoods of Mumbai, or the modern high-rises of Dubai, the essence of Ramadan remains the same: a time for self-discipline, humility, and empathy. As fasting hours tick by, observers are reminded not only of their own resilience but also of the struggles faced by the less fortunate—a lesson in compassion that lies at the heart of the holy month. And as the sun sets each evening, the shared meal of iftar becomes a celebration of faith, family, and the enduring bonds that connect Muslims around the world.
