Ashgabat: Ramadan timetable 2027, Imsak and Iftar times

Late mornings at the foot of the Kopet Dag

Ashgabat lies between the Kopet Dag mountains and the Karakum desert, at about 38 degrees north. Its winter mornings stay dark for a long time: on day 1, fajr is at 06:36 and the sun rises only at 08:05.

Why sunrise is so late

Turkmenistan keeps UTC+5 all year, a zone centred on 75 degrees east, while Ashgabat sits near 58 degrees. Being so far west of that meridian shifts every solar event later on the clock, which explains the evening iftar despite short winter days.

More than an hour added

The fast lengthens quickly in the second half of winter. It reaches 12 h 42 min on 22 February, with imsak at 06:11 and iftar at 18:52, then 13 h 15 min on 8 March, the 29th day.

On that last day, imsak falls at 05:52 and iftar at 19:06, so suhoor ends about thirty-four minutes earlier than on the first morning. Isha also moves later, from 20:01 to 20:29, pushing tarawih further into the night.

Prayer-time convention used

The times are computed with the Muslim World League parameters, 18 degrees for fajr and 17 for isha. Calendars issued locally may use other conventions or precautionary minutes, and mosques in Ashgabat can therefore announce times slightly different from these.

Expected start, Qadr night and Eid

The religious authorities of Turkmenistan confirm the beginning of Ramadan; the astronomical expectation is that the month starts on Monday 8 February 2027, with the first tarawih on Sunday evening, or one day later if the crescent is not confirmed.

Laylat al-Qadr, traditionally sought on the 27th night, is expected on the evening of Friday 5 March. Eid al-Fitr, called Oraza baýramy in Turkmen, should be celebrated on Tuesday 9 March, or Wednesday 10 March after a thirty-day month.

Cold evenings and Turkmen hospitality

February in Ashgabat is cold, with frosty nights and occasional snow, before the milder days of March arrive. Iftar is therefore a warm, indoor affair, usually beginning with dates or dried fruit and endless bowls of green tea.

Typical dishes include palaw, the Turkmen rice pilaf with carrots and mutton, dograma made from torn bread and meat broth, and manty dumplings. Fresh çörek bread baked in a tamdyr clay oven accompanies almost every meal of the month.

Practical tips for the month

Because the working day in Ashgabat starts not long after dawn, fasting employees have little morning slack. Preparing suhoor the night before and taking a short rest at lunchtime can make the long office day easier to manage.

• Set the suhoor alarm with the late dawn in mind: imsak 06:26 on day 1.
• Dress warmly when walking to tarawih on February nights.
• Drink tea and water gradually; the air is very dry.
• Recheck times weekly, as iftar moves almost half an hour.

Why is the first fast shorter than in Dubai or Cairo?

Ashgabat lies much further north, so its February days are shorter: 12 h 11 min against roughly twelve and a half hours in Cairo and Dubai. By the 29th day the gap closes and all three fast about 13 h 15 min.

Is iftar earlier in eastern Turkmenistan?

Yes, generally. Towns to the east of Ashgabat share the same clock but see the sun set earlier. This page covers only the capital, so residents elsewhere in the country should rely on the timetable of their own local mosque.

Should travellers follow the table or the mosque?

Both are useful. The table above is computed precisely for Ashgabat's coordinates, but the call to prayer from the nearest mosque is what the community follows. Differences of a few minutes are normal and reflect the calculation method chosen.