Umm Al-Qura Calendar — أُم القُرى — Saudi Arabia’s Official Hijri Calendar 2026
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Umm Al-Qura Calendar — Saudi Arabia’s Official Hijri Calendar 2026
The Umm al-Qura calendar is the official Hijri civil calendar of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It determines the start of every Hijri month in advance using precise astronomical calculations centered on Mecca — no visual moon sighting required. This makes it the most reliable system for planning, scheduling, and official government use across Saudi Arabia.
Umm al-Qura Calendar: How Saudi Arabia’s Official Hijri Calendar Works
The Umm al-Qura calendar is the official Hijri civil calendar used by the government of Saudi Arabia. Unlike traditional observational calendars that depend on physically sighting the lunar crescent, it uses a fixed astronomical calculation method based on Mecca’s coordinates. This allows Hijri dates to be determined years in advance for administrative, legal, and planning purposes.
Origin of the name: The calendar takes its name from Mecca, known in Arabic as Umm al-Qura (أم القرى) — meaning “Mother of Cities.”
The Two-Condition Rule: How Each Month Is Determined
On the 29th day of every Hijri month, two specific astronomical conditions are evaluated using calculations for Mecca. Together, these conditions decide whether the month ends at 29 days or continues to 30.
Conjunction Before Sunset
The astronomical conjunction — the moment when the Moon and Sun share the same ecliptic longitude, marking the new moon — must occur before sunset in Mecca on the 29th day.
Moonset After Sunset
The Moon must set after the Sun on that same day in Mecca. If the Moon is still above the horizon after sunset, this condition is met.
How the Decision Works
| Conjunction Before Sunset | Moonset After Sunset | Result | Month Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | New month begins next day | 29 days |
| ✓ Yes | ✗ No | Current month continues | 30 days |
| ✗ No | ✓ Yes | Current month continues | 30 days |
| ✗ No | ✗ No | Current month continues | 30 days |
Both conditions must be met simultaneously for a month to end at 29 days. If either condition fails, the month runs to 30 days. There are no exceptions.
Why Mecca Is the Reference Point
All calculations use Mecca (21.4225° N, 39.8262° E) as the single geographic reference point for three reasons:
Religious Significance
Mecca is the spiritual center of Islam, making it the natural reference for Saudi Arabia’s Hijri calendar.
Consistency
A single fixed location eliminates the regional variations that arise when different cities calculate independently.
Administrative Uniformity
Every government institution, school, business, and public service across Saudi Arabia operates on the same synchronized dates.
The system calculates only the sunset time and moonset time in Mecca. It does not factor in weather, atmospheric visibility, or actual observation capability.
Hijri Months 1447–1448 AH — 2026 Gregorian Dates
The following table shows each Hijri month that falls within the Gregorian year 2026, along with its calculated start date and length. All dates are fetched live from the Aladhan API using the Umm al-Qura calculation method.
| Hijri Month | Year | Gregorian Start | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loading Hijri month data… | |||
Key Islamic Dates in Saudi Arabia — 2026
Below are the major Islamic occasions falling in 2026, calculated dynamically using the Umm al-Qura system. These are civil calendar dates — actual observance may vary based on moon sighting.
| Occasion | Hijri Date | Gregorian Date |
|---|---|---|
| Loading Islamic event dates… | ||
These dates follow the Umm al-Qura civil calendar. Religious observance dates may differ based on local moon sighting.
Practical Uses of the Umm al-Qura Calendar
Because the system is entirely calculation-based, Saudi Arabia can publish dates years in advance. The calendar is used for:
Government Operations
Official documents, legal contracts, court proceedings, and administrative deadlines all reference Umm al-Qura dates.
Education
School terms, examination schedules, and academic year planning are built around predetermined Hijri dates.
Payroll & Finance
Salary cycles, billing periods, and fiscal reporting align with the calendar.
Public Holidays
National holidays and official observances are scheduled using civil Hijri dates.
Long-term Planning
Multi-year projects and policy timelines depend on the calendar’s predictability.
Civil Calendar vs. Religious Observance
The Umm al-Qura calendar is a civil administrative tool — not a religious authority. Saudi Arabia itself distinguishes between civil calendar dates and the dates announced for religious observances such as Ramadan and Eid, which may be confirmed by moon sighting committees.
📋 Civil Calendar (Umm al-Qura)
- Based on astronomical calculation
- Fixed and published in advance
- Single reference point: Mecca
- Used for government, finance, education
🌙 Religious Observance
- May use local moon sighting
- Confirmed by religious committees
- Varies by country and method
- Used for Ramadan, Eid, Hajj timing
- Some communities rely on local visual moon sighting rather than calculation.
- Different calculated calendars use different criteria (elevation angle, geographic reference, visibility threshold).
- Religious scholars and authorities in different regions may follow different methodologies.
Historical Background
The Umm al-Qura calendar was introduced in 1346 AH (1927 CE) to address a practical problem: visual moon sighting made advance planning impossible for government institutions. By establishing a calculated system centered on Mecca, Saudi Arabia was able to publish consistent dates across all administrative functions.
The astronomical calculation rules were formally standardized in 1423 AH (2002 CE), replacing earlier estimates with precise ephemeris-based computations. Modern implementations use internationally recognized astronomical algorithms accounting for the Moon’s orbital mechanics, Earth’s rotation, and Mecca’s exact geographic coordinates.
Timeline: 1346 AH (1927) — Calendar introduced · 1423 AH (2002) — Calculation rules standardized · Present — Used by all Saudi government systems and institutions.