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When is Ramadan in Kuwait in 2026?
Astronomical calendars project that Ramadan 2026 (1447 AH) corresponds to Wednesday, 18 February 2026, with fasting beginning at dawn that day. If the month completes 30 days, 30 Ramadan is expected on Thursday, 19 March 2026, making the likely date of Eid al‑Fitr on Friday, 20 March 2026, all subject to the official moon‑sighting decision in Kuwait.
Kuwait confirms the start and end of Ramadan through its Moon Sighting Board (also called the Sharia Sighting Authority) which meets at the Supreme Judicial Council in Mubarak Al‑Abdullah to receive verified testimonies. Announcements are made through KUNA, state TV and radio.
In Kuwait City, the Maghrib prayer that signals iftar arrives around the golden glow of sunset on the first day and shifts toward the early evening by the close of the month. Suhoor concludes with the Fajr call in the quiet pre dawn, when the sky is still pale and the city is just beginning to stir.
How Ramadan shapes daily life in Kuwait
From the daily boom of the iftar cannon at Naif Palace to midnight ghabqa gatherings, Ramadan in Kuwait pivots the city to evening hours. Markets such as Souq Al‑Mubarakiya glow after dark, mosques extend programming, and charities scale up meal distribution across the country.
The daily rhythm
- Suhoor to Fajr: Homes keep a gentle pre‑dawn routine with light dishes (dates, laban, soups) before Fajr around 5:03 AM at the start of the month, getting earlier through March. Quiet reminders come from mosque loudspeakers in many neighborhoods.
- Morning calm: Streets stay subdued after dawn; essential errands are often done early. Public eating and drinking are prohibited during daylight hours (see “Public etiquette & regulations”).
- Short workday: Government entities operate on reduced, flexible schedules, typically allowing starts between 8:30–10:30 AM with closure around 1:00–3:00 PM depending on the agency. Banks generally open 10:00 AM–1:30 PM.
- Afternoon slowdown: Businesses pause; households prepare iftar. Traffic usually spikes before sunset as families head home or to communal meals. Authorities routinely deploy extra traffic staff during Ramadan.
- Iftar & Maghrib: At Naif Palace, uniformed cannoneers fire a single shot at sunset, a scene carried live on Kuwait TV and radio, signaling it is time to break the fast.
- Taraweeh and late evenings: After `isha, mosques host Taraweeh prayers; parks, souqs and malls stay busy well past midnight. In the last ten nights, extended Qiyam al‑Layl prayers draw tens of thousands at the Grand Mosque (Al‑Masjid Al‑Kabir) and across Kuwait.
Adjusted services (expect similar patterns in 2026)
- Government & public sector: Flexible arrival windows 8:30–10:30 AM, closing ~1:00–3:00 PM per Civil Service guidance. Check your ministry’s circular each year.
- Banks: Customer hours commonly 10:00 AM–1:30 PM per the Central Bank circulars relayed by the Kuwait Banking Association.
- Retail & malls: Split shifts are typical. Examples from recent years: Avenues 10:00 AM–4:00 PM & 7:30 PM–1:30 AM; 360 Mall 10:00 AM–4:00 PM & 8:30 PM–1:30 AM; Marina Mall 10:00 AM–4:00 PM & 7:30 PM–1:30 AM; Al Kout 10:00 AM–4:00 PM & 8:30 PM–1:30 AM. Restaurants in malls usually open close to sunset.
- Museums & culture: Venues shift to evening hours; for instance, Abdullah Al‑Salem Cultural Centre has operated 8:00–11:00 PM (closed Sundays) in Ramadan, while Al Shaheed Park has run 5:00 AM–12:00 AM. Verify each site’s announcement.
- Public transport: Kuwait has no metro; buses run by KPTC, CityBus and others often extend operations late into the night, reported up to 20+ hours daily during Ramadan. Expect heavier road traffic 30–45 minutes before Maghrib.
Public etiquette & regulations
- Public eating, drinking, smoking: Prohibited by law during daylight hours for Muslims and non‑Muslims. Law No. 44 of 1968 sets penalties of up to KD 100 and/or up to one month imprisonment. Authorities issue reminders each year. If exempt (illness, travel, pregnancy, etc.), do so privately.
- Modest dress: Conservative attire is expected in public spaces, especially around mosques and family areas. Guidance is reinforced by malls and cultural venues in Ramadan.
- Music & entertainment: Live entertainment typically softens after evening prayers; cinemas schedule shows from around 7:00–8:30 PM onward.
- Driving: Anticipate congestion shortly before sunset and after Taraweeh. Police routinely manage flows around commercial areas and prayer sites.
Helpful tips
- Time your shopping: Supermarkets are quietest just after Fajr or after iftar; pre‑Maghrib is busiest. Mall retail follows split shifts (see hours above).
- Catch the cannon: For a classic experience, watch the Naif Palace iftar cannon – in person or on state TV.
- Plan transport: With buses running late and roads crowded before sunset, consider traveling after Maghrib or late night when possible.
- Mosque capacity on peak nights: Arrive early for the last ten nights at large mosques; authorities add tents, water stations, and crowd services.
- Families with kids: Look for Girgian activities in malls and community centers around nights 13–15 Ramadan; many venues announce craft sessions and costume parades.
Traditions & cultural expressions
Iftar cannon
Kuwait’s iftar cannon has thundered for over a century. The practice began in 1907 during the reign of Sheikh Mubarak Al‑Sabah, evolving into a daily Ramadan ritual at Naif Palace. Red‑liveried cannoneers fire at sunset while TV and radio broadcast the moment nationwide.
Dining culture during Ramadan
Public eating is paused until sunset; restaurants screen off or begin service near Maghrib. Iftar commonly opens with dates, water or laban, and soup, followed by Kuwaiti staples such as harees, jareesh, machboos (rice with lamb or chicken), marag bamia (okra stew) and grills, with sweets like luqaimat and kanafeh.
Popular drinks include Vimto, qamar al‑din and jallab. Hotels and charities host extensive iftars and late‑night ghabqa spreads that run deep into the night.
Girgian (nights 13–15)
Kuwait’s beloved children’s festival, Girgian, lights up the 13th, 14th and 15th nights of Ramadan. Children don embroidered thobes and silk dresses, sing door‑to‑door songs, and collect nuts and sweets in decorated bags. Schools and malls stage parades and candy showers, turning neighborhoods into a Gulf‑style celebration of endurance and generosity.
Ghabqa & majlis gatherings
After Taraweeh, families and friends gather for ghabqa – late‑night meals featuring luqaimat, balaleet (sweet vermicelli with omelette), samboosa, and machboos, with conversations stretching toward suhoor in home majalis and hotel tents.
Charity & community service
Ramadan amplifies giving. Organizations such as Kuwait Red Crescent Society, Zakat House, Al‑Najat Charity, banks and telecoms coordinate iftar meal boxes, food baskets, and mosque hospitality, with distributions at souqs, labor camps and mosques across Kuwait.
Family, Kids & Faith
Schools shorten the day so children can practise Ramadan arts, from graceful calligraphy to stitching Girgian treat bags and listening to storytellers who bring old tales to life. Parks and cultural centres stage evening lantern walks and craft corners, while malls reserve after-dark hours for family games and puppet shows. When the cannon’s echo fades, whole households file into Kuwait’s mosques for nightly Taraweeh prayers (usually eight to twenty rakaʿat).
In the final ten nights, Qiyam al-Layl keeps lights glowing until dawn, the Grand Mosque ready for as many as fifty thousand worshippers while the Ministry of Awqaf rings major sites with tents, water, medical posts and traffic stewards. In these deep hours, parents guide children through quiet recitation, all seeking the serenity of Laylat al-Qadr together.
Final reflection
In Kuwait, the closing days of Ramadan are less about wrapping things up and more about setting a tone for what comes next. Late nights stretch longer, not from fatigue, but from lingering over meals, laughter, and late drives through quiet city streets. Eid isn’t marked by one moment, but by a slow build – phone calls confirming morning plans, shopkeepers pulling down shutters a little earlier, kids choosing their outfits for the first day back in the sun.
