Ramadan timetable 2027 in Addis Ababa: calculated times
In Addis Ababa, the Ramadan timetable 2027 consists of a set of times calculated for each day of fasting: imsak before dawn, fajr, sunrise, iftar at maghrib and isha. On the first day imsak is set at 05:24 and iftar at 18:33, a fast of 13 h 09.
Ramadan 2027 in Addis Ababa should start on Monday 8 February, with imsak at 05:24 and iftar at 18:33. The first fast lasts 13 h 09, and so close to the equator it lengthens by just eleven minutes before Eid.
| Day | Imsak | Fajr | Sunrise | Iftar (maghrib) | Isha | Fasting time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 – Mon 8 Feb | 05:24 | 05:34 | 06:45 | 18:33 | 19:40 | 13 h 09 |
| Day 15 – Mon 22 Feb | 05:21 | 05:31 | 06:42 | 18:35 | 19:42 | 13 h 14 |
| Day 29 – Mon 8 Mar | 05:16 | 05:26 | 06:36 | 18:36 | 19:42 | 13 h 20 |
Calculated estimates (18°/17° (MWL)). The IslamicFinder widget above shows today’s times; check with your local mosque.
A highland city climbing towards Entoto
Addis Ababa is built on a tilted plateau that rises from busy Mexico and Bole districts towards Entoto, a eucalyptus-covered ridge, and most neighbourhoods stand close to 2,350 metres above sea level. Altitude shapes this whole month. Mornings begin cold and bright, noon sunshine is strong and dry, and daylight fades fast once the sun drops behind the western hills.
For anyone planning a working day, this timetable is refreshingly simple. On the opening Monday, early meals should end by 05:24, the sun rises at 06:45 and the evening meal can begin at 18:33. By the final Monday in our table, imsak has moved to 05:16 and maghrib to 18:36, so a typical day looks practically identical from one week to the next.
Cold starts in neighbourhood prayer halls
Dawn prayer on day one is at 05:34, long before the sun clears Entoto's ridge. Residents of Bole, Kazanchis, Piassa and older quarters near Arat Kilo often walk to a nearby prayer hall instead of driving, and a scarf or light coat is far from a luxury at such an hour. Sunrise follows over an hour later, leaving time to rest after the prayer, before the commute begins.
Beating the rush on the road home
Traffic is Addis Ababa's real obstacle each afternoon. Minibus taxis crowd stops around Mexico Square, Stadium and Megenagna, the light rail carries commuters along its two lines, and the ring road clogs as offices empty. Fasting commuters hoping to reach a table by 18:33 on day one are wise to be moving well before five o'clock.
The Merkato district and the Anwar Mosque
Merkato, often described as one of Africa's largest open-air markets, lies west of downtown, with the Grand Anwar Mosque in the same district. Spice sellers, grain traders and shopkeepers keep the lanes busy through the afternoon, then the mood shifts as dusk approaches and people head for home or a nearby minaret. The hours before sunset bring heavy foot traffic around the mosque, so visitors do better arriving early.
After sunset: coffee, pastries and slow evenings
Tables in this city usually start light. A date or glass of water comes first, then perhaps a bowl of soup or a fried pastry stuffed with lentils, and only later larger plates built on injera. Strong coffee, poured in small cups and often roasted over charcoal at home, closes the meal before families set off again for night prayers.
Pre-dawn food is plainer and more filling. Many households favour chechebsa or firfir, torn flatbread tossed in spiced butter or sauce, with sweet tea, because it keeps hunger away through a day of work at altitude. Fruit and plenty of water are worth adding, since thin air and low humidity dry throats faster than visitors expect.
Habits that suit a high, dry city
Residents who keep this month comfortable tend to follow a few simple rules, whether they live near Bole or in hillside neighbourhoods above downtown:
- Sip water through each evening rather than all at once before bed
- Carry a shawl or jacket for any walk to dawn prayer
- Wear sunglasses and a cap during bright midday errands
- Leave work early enough to avoid Mexico Square jams
- Do Merkato shopping in mornings, not late afternoons
Closing week and festival
Odd-numbered nights near the end of the month draw big crowds, with prayers continuing late in many mosques. Friday 5 March is expected to host a special 27th-night vigil. Festivities marking the end of the fast are projected for Tuesday 9 March, with Wednesday 10 March as an alternative if Ramadan runs to thirty days. On that morning, main roads near large prayer grounds fill with families in their best clothes.
When a crescent decides
Whether this month opens on Monday 8 February or a day later depends on the moon sighting, so households usually wait for an announcement on the preceding evening. If opening is confirmed, first night prayers take place on Sunday 7 February.
How early should an alarm be set on day one?
With imsak at 05:24 and fajr at 05:34, an alarm near 04:30 leaves a comfortable hour for a proper meal and drink. That same alarm still works at the end of the month, when imsak is only a few minutes earlier, at 05:16.
Does a fast feel long at this altitude?
Our table gives 13 h 09 on day one, rising to 13 h 20 on the last day shown. The length is steady, but cool air and dry heat mean thirst is milder than in lowland cities; what counts more is a good intake of fluid during the evening.
Is there a best moment for market visits?
Mid-morning is calmer than hours before sunset. Anyone buying food for the evening meal can shop earlier, then return home before roads around Merkato become congested.